Abstract:
System and methods of conducting an online transaction through an intermediary platform are provided. In one aspect, a system of conducting online transactions comprises an intermediary platform that includes an intermediary platform server and an intermediary platform database. The intermediary platform server includes a synchronous processing unit that receives information of a product from a merchant selling the product causes the information of the product of the merchant to be displayed at a predetermined linked position in a user interface. The intermediary platform server also includes a transaction request processing unit that receives a transaction request to purchase the product from a user, sends the transaction request to the merchant, and receives a transaction result from the merchant. The intermediary platform server further includes an interaction unit that establishes communications with the merchant and the user. The intermediary platform database includes a merchant information storage unit that stores contact information of the merchant and a correlation between the information of the product of the merchant and the merchant. The intermediary platform database also includes a transaction information storage unit that stores information of a transaction, which includes one or more of merchant information, user information, product information, transaction result information of the transaction, or a combination thereof.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a national stage application of international patent application PCT/US09/65158, filed Nov. 19, 2009 entitled “SYSTEM OF ONLINE TRADING THROUGH INTERMEDIARY PLATFORM AND METHODS THEREOF” claiming priority from Chinese patent application, Application No. 200810182976.X, filed Dec. 15, 2008, entitled “SYSTEM OF ONLINE TRADING THROUGH INTERMEDIARY PLATFORM AND METHODS THEREOF”, which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure is generally directed to networking and, more particularly, to online e-commerce trading systems and methods that are related to cost-per-sale (CPS) shopping platforms. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    With the development of the Internet and maturity of encryption technologies such as digital signature, the reach of electronic commerce, or e-commerce, has been expanding globally at a tremendous pace. Many successful companies have their primary business models based on e-commerce, including Amazon.com and Alibaba.com. 
         [0004]    This kind of business method has completely revolutionized the existing business mode.  FIG. 1  illustrates a commonly seen example of an existing online trading system  100 . The system  100  includes merchants  1   a  and  1   b,  an intermediary platform  2 , a payment platform  3 , and users  4   a  and  4   b.  The user  4   a  purchases a product of the merchant  1   a  by making an online payment through the payment platform  3 . The merchant  1   a  ships the product to the user  4   a  by mailing for example. The merchant  1   a  and the payment platform  3  conduct account reconciliation and account remittance on a regular basis. Of course, functions that are performed by the payment platform  3  can be integrated in the intermediary platform  2 . 
         [0005]    An example of the payment platform  3  is AliPay, an online payment services provider. The user  4   a  may open an account with AliPay, and deposit a certain amount of funds in the account by direct deposit or periodic recharges. Accordingly, when the user  4   a  purchases a product of the merchant  1   a,  a deduction from the account of the user  4   a  is processed through AliPay to consummate the sale of the product. Under such scheme, the merchant  1   a  needs only to complete account reconciliation and account remittance with AliPay on a regular basis. 
         [0006]    An example of the intermediary platform  2  is TaoBao.com, an online auction site. The user  4   a  purchases a product of the merchant  1   a  through TaoBao.com. The intermediary platform  2  includes at least a server center  11  and a database  12 . The server center  11  is used for processing each transaction request, while the database  12  is used for recording each transaction in real time. 
         [0007]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the security of the transaction between the merchant  1   a  and the user  4   a  is greatly improved with the transaction going through the intermediary platform  2 . From the perspective of a user, making a payment through a payment platform removes worries arising from the uncertainty of the authenticity of a merchant (because the merchant is an online virtual merchant), and the inability to assess the quality of a product to be purchased. From the perspective of a merchant, a user&#39;s worries can be relieved by establishing confidence of the user through the intermediary platform, thus improving sales volume. This type of business model achieves a multi-win situation for the merchant, the user and the intermediary platform provider, and has rapidly been developed and adopted recently. 
         [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates another commonly seen example of an existing online trading system  200 . The user  4   a  purchases product(s) by logging onto various intermediary platforms, such as the first intermediary platform  5  . . . and the N th  intermediary platform  6 , and makes respective payments through the payment platform  3 . The payment platform  3  can conduct account reconciliation with the intermediary platforms while the intermediary platforms conduct account reconciliation with various merchants. Alternatively, the payment platform  3  can directly conduct account reconciliation with the merchants. Moreover, the user  4   a  can log onto merchant website  7 , which has a contractual relationship with the payment platform  3 , to purchase product(s) directly. If the user  4   a  makes a payment through the payment platform  3 , the merchant website  7  can conduct account reconciliation with the payment platform  3  directly. 
         [0009]    To attract users to purchase a product, a merchant sometimes sells the product at a discount. The merchant posts information of the discounted product on its website. To increase sales channels, the merchant further posts information of the discounted product on an intermediary platform. However, situations such as inconsistencies between information of a discounted product posted on the merchant website and that posted on the intermediary platform exist in current business model, thus affecting a transaction and even reputation of the merchant. 
         [0010]    From the perspective of a network, the following deficiencies primarily exist: 
         [0011]    (1) Existing trading methods generally have the following problem: In order to increase sales volume of a discounted product, a merchant generally links information of the discounted product to a number of websites. When such information of the discounted product changes for whatever reason, respective information of the discounted product on those linked websites might not be updated timely, and this could undesirably lead to a number of unforeseen events during a transaction process. From the perspective of the entire network, the need to update information of discounted products unnecessarily increases the burden of data transmission and consumes data storage space in the network. 
         [0012]    (2) The existence of various registered names and passwords for various websites in the course of online transactions tend to result in excessive waste of data storage space in the websites as well as manpower and resources for maintenance. Generally, the transaction website which holds the information of the discounted product, the transaction platform, and even the merchant website, each requires respective username and password for a user to log on. This requires a user to memorize a large number of usernames and passwords and, unfortunately, may easily hinder the progress of a transaction due to oblivescence. From the perspective of a website, the need for human maintenance for a large amount of data storage space undesirably leads to a cost increase. 
         [0013]    (3) A consumer is sensitive to prices and desires to purchase a product having a good cost performance ratio, especially in the case of a discounted brand-name product. However, due to limitations of geographical distance and source of information, such desire cannot always be fulfilled in real life. Although the Internet provides advantages in terms of information transparency and elimination of obstacle due to geographical distance, there has yet to be an online platform that is suitable for online trading of discounted products. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0014]    A goal of the present disclosure is to provide a system of conducting an online transaction through an intermediary platform for online transactions associated with discounted products. 
         [0015]    Another goal of the present disclosure is to provide a method of conducting an online transaction through an intermediary platform for online transactions associated with discounted products. 
         [0016]    In order to achieve the aforementioned goals, in one aspect, the disclosed system of conducting an online transaction through an intermediary platform according to one embodiment may include a user, a payment platform, and a merchant connected through a network, such as the Internet for example. The system may further include an intermediary platform that provides information of a discounted product of a merchant. The intermediary platform may be connected to the network and, in one embodiment, may include an intermediary platform server and an intermediary platform database. 
         [0017]    The intermediary platform server may include a synchronous processing unit, a transaction request processing unit, and an interaction unit. The synchronous processing unit may be used for receiving uploaded or modified information of a discounted product that is provided by the merchant, and for displaying the information of the discounted product of the merchant at predetermined linked position(s). The transaction request processing unit may be used for receiving a transaction request for purchasing the discounted product from the merchant, sending the transaction request to the merchant corresponding to the discounted product, and receiving a returned transaction result. The interaction unit may be used for establishing interaction with external devices including external devices of the merchant and the user. 
         [0018]    The intermediary platform database may include a merchant information storage unit and a transaction information storage unit. The merchant information storage unit may be used for storing address information of each merchant and a correspondence relationship between the information of the discounted product and its corresponding merchant. The transaction information storage unit may be used for storing transaction information of each transaction including merchant information, user information, product information, and transaction result information of the transaction. 
         [0019]    The merchant may include a transaction request receiving unit, which may be used for receiving a transaction request sent from the intermediary platform, obtaining information of the product to be purchased by the user as well as user information, and sending associated transaction information to the payment platform for completing subsequent product shipment according to a transaction result returned from the payment platform. 
         [0020]    The payment platform may include a payment platform server and a payment platform database. The payment platform server may include at least a user processing unit, which may be used for receiving user identity requests having user registration and user login. The payment platform database may include at least a user information storage unit, which may be used for storing the correlations among various pieces of user-related information including a username and a password associated with user registration, user identity information, user address, and a payment account of the user. 
         [0021]    The intermediary platform server of the intermediary platform may further include a payment platform registered user processing unit, which may be used for receiving a user request for logging onto the intermediary platform with a username registered in the payment platform, sending the request to the payment platform, and permitting the user&#39;s login upon successful verification by the payment platform. 
         [0022]    The merchant may further include a payment platform registered user transaction processing unit, which may be communicatively coupled to the transaction request receiving unit and may be used for linking information of a registered user of the payment platform that has been parsed out by the transaction request receiving unit to corresponding user-related information obtained by the payment platform. 
         [0023]    The intermediary platform server may further include a payment platform processing unit, which may be communicatively coupled to the transaction request processing unit and may be used for sending transaction request information to the payment platform and receiving a payment feedback returned from the payment platform. 
         [0024]    The payment platform server may further include an intermediary platform transaction request processing unit, which may be used for receiving a transaction request from the intermediary platform, recognizing the same transaction request from the merchant through a serial trading number, and sending the transaction result to the intermediary platform either through the merchant or directly from the payment platform server. 
         [0025]    The payment platform server may further include a profit-sharing unit, which is used for periodically completing profit-sharing operations with various intermediary platforms according to predetermined profit-sharing setting(s). 
         [0026]    In another aspect, a method of conducting an online transaction through an intermediary platform includes a user, a payment platform, and a merchant connected to the intermediary platform through a network, such as the Internet for example. The method includes a number of actions as follows: 
         [0027]    (1) An intermediary platform is established to link another intermediary platform or a merchant having a contractual relationship with the established intermediary platform. 
         [0028]    (2) The merchant or the intermediary platform synchronizes information of a discounted product therein with the established intermediary platform, which displays the discounted product information at predetermined linked position(s). 
         [0029]    (3) Upon receiving a transaction request from a user, the established intermediary platform sends the transaction request and the user information to each relevant merchant. 
         [0030]    (4) The merchant creates a purchase order and sends the order to the payment platform. 
         [0031]    (5) The payment platform consummates payment by the user, returns a payment result to the merchant, and sends the payment result to the intermediary platform either through the merchant or directly. 
         [0032]    (6) The merchant completes product shipment based on the returned payment result. 
         [0033]    Upon receiving from a user a request of logging onto the intermediary platform using a username registered in the payment platform, the intermediary platform may send the request to the payment platform and permit the user&#39;s login only upon successful verification by the payment platform. When sending a transaction request to a relevant merchant, the intermediary platform may also include information of the username of the user in the transaction request. Upon receiving the transaction request, the merchant may reckon the information of the username registered in the payment platform (that has been parsed out and stored therein) to be user information for the merchant. The merchant may create a purchase order which includes the information of the username of the user that is registered in the payment platform. The payment result received by the merchant may contain user information including a shipping address of the user for the merchant to complete delivery of the product. 
         [0034]    In one aspect, when an intermediary platform sends a transaction request to a merchant, the transaction request includes a serial trading number. The intermediary platform also sends a payment platform the transaction request with the serial trading number. The payment platform identifies the corresponding transaction based on the serial trading number and separately sends a payment result of the corresponding transaction to the merchant and the intermediary platform. The payment platform also completes profit sharing with the intermediary platform according to a profit-sharing ratio. 
         [0035]    In another aspect of a system of conducting an online transaction through an intermediary platform in which a user, a payment platform, and a merchant are connected through a network such as the Internet, the system also includes an intermediary platform that provides information of discounted products to customers. The intermediary platform is communicatively coupled to the Internet and includes an intermediary platform server and an intermediary platform database. 
         [0036]    The intermediary platform server may include a synchronization processing unit, a transaction request processing unit, a payment platform processing unit, a merchant processing unit, and an interaction unit. The synchronization processing unit may be used for receiving uploaded or modified discounted product information provided by the merchant and displaying the discounted product information from the merchant at predetermined linked position(s). The transaction request processing unit may be used for receiving a transaction request for purchasing a discounted product from the user and creating a purchase order. The payment platform processing unit may be used for sending the purchase order to the payment platform and receiving a payment result from the payment platform. The merchant processing unit may be communicatively coupled to the payment platform processing unit, and used for sending a transaction message of successful payment, or a payment result, to the merchant which then completes product shipment. The interaction unit may be used for establishing interaction with external devices including external devices of the merchant and the user. 
         [0037]    The intermediary platform database may include a merchant information storage unit and a transaction information storage unit. The merchant information storage unit may be used for storing merchant address information for linking to the merchant and a correlation between the discounted product information of the merchant and the merchant. The transaction information storage unit may be used for storing transaction information of each transaction, which includes merchant information, user information, product information, and transaction result information that are associated with the transaction. 
         [0038]    The merchant may include a transaction request receiving unit, which may be used for receiving the transaction message of successful payment sent from the intermediary platform to obtain information of the product purchased by the user as well as user information for completion of subsequent product shipment. 
         [0039]    The payment platform may include a payment platform server and a payment platform database. The payment platform server may include at least a user processing unit, which is used for receiving user identity requests including user registration and user login. The payment platform database may include at least a user information storage unit, which is used for storing the correlations among various user-related information including a username and a password associated with user registration, user identity information, a user address and a payment account of the user. 
         [0040]    The intermediary platform server of the intermediary platform may further include a payment platform registered user processing unit, which may be used for receiving a request of logging onto the intermediary platform using a username registered in the payment platform from the user, sending the request to the payment platform, and permitting the user&#39;s login upon successful verification by the payment platform. 
         [0041]    The payment platform server may further include a profit-sharing unit, which may be used for completing profit sharing with various intermediary platforms according to predetermined profit-sharing setting(s). 
         [0042]    In a further aspect, a second method of conducting an online transaction through an intermediary platform includes a user, a payment platform, and a merchant connected to the intermediary platform through a network, such as the Internet for example. The method includes a number of actions as follows: 
         [0043]    (1) An intermediary platform is established to link another intermediary platform or a merchant having a contractual relationship with the established intermediary platform. 
         [0044]    (2) The merchant or the intermediary platform synchronizes information of a discounted product therein with the established intermediary platform, which displays the discounted product information at predetermined linked position(s). 
         [0045]    (3) Upon receiving a transaction request from a user, the established intermediary platform creates a purchase order that includes the transaction request and user information and sends the purchase order to a payment platform. 
         [0046]    (4) The payment platform completes a payment made by the user and returns a payment result to the established intermediary platform. 
         [0047]    (5) The established intermediary platform returns a transaction message of successful payment to the relevant merchant which then completes product shipment based on the returned payment result. 
         [0048]    The present disclosure provides an online trading method that is based on an intermediary platform that facilitates online shopping for consumers, or users, and adds a new sales channel for merchants. 
         [0049]    From a technical point of view, embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods have a number of advantages. Firstly, the present disclosure provides an intermediary platform. A merchant may place discounted product information in the intermediary platform on a regular basis or on an event-triggered basis, thus ensuring timeliness of accessibility of the discounted product information on the intermediary platform. A user only needs to log onto the intermediary platform to obtain a huge amount of latest discount information from one or more merchants. From the perspective of an entire network, various discount information can be effectively managed to provide convenience to users and merchants and avoid the need of a large amount of data storage space. Success rate of data transaction is also improved at the same time. Secondly, the present disclosure provides two types of trading models: one type utilizes an intermediary platform merely as a display platform while the other type utilizes an intermediary platform as both a display platform and a trading platform. Regardless of which model is used, resources can be effectively allocated and used from the perspective of an entire network. Thirdly, the present disclosure only requires using a username and a password associated with a payment platform to achieve login and various operations associated with the intermediary platform or with the intermediary platform and a merchant website. This resolves the problem of a user having to memorize or keep track of a large number of usernames and passwords. Of course, it will be understood that any implementation of the disclosed systems and methods needs not to achieve all the above advantages at the same time. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0050]      FIG. 1  shows a diagram of a commonly seen example of existing online trading systems. 
           [0051]      FIG. 2  shows a diagram of another commonly seen example of existing online trading systems. 
           [0052]      FIG. 3  shows a diagram of a first exemplary system of conducting an online transaction through an intermediary platform in accordance with an embodiment. 
           [0053]      FIG. 4  shows a flow chart of a first exemplary method of conducting an online transaction through an intermediary platform in accordance with an embodiment. 
           [0054]      FIG. 5  shows a diagram of a second exemplary system of conducting an online transaction through an intermediary platform in accordance with another embodiment. 
           [0055]      FIG. 6  shows a flow chart of a second exemplary method of conducting an online transaction through an intermediary platform in accordance with another embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0056]    The present disclosure is described in details below with reference to the accompanying figures. 
         [0057]    The core idea in the present disclosure relates to the use of an intermediary platform in an online trading system. In one embodiment, the intermediary platform allows placement of product information by various merchants, receives purchase requests from users, and links to relevant merchants for completion of associated transactions. Alternatively, the intermediary platform directly completes the transactions through a payment platform. Moreover, in one embodiment, a purchase request may be completed using a registered username in the payment platform. As such, the users can complete logins and purchases without going through registration when making respective purchases through the intermediary platform. Furthermore, the intermediary platform may have agreed in advance a profit-sharing ratio with the payment platform. The payment platform may then regularly perform profit-sharing operations with various intermediary platforms according to the profit-sharing ratio. Generally, the intermediary platform may alternatively be called a cost-per-sale platform, or a CPS platform. The CPS platform may be an existing intermediary platform (e.g., a part of a shopping website) or another intermediary platform that is separate from an existing shopping website. 
         [0058]      FIG. 3  illustrates a system  300  of conducting an online transaction through an intermediary platform in accordance with an embodiment. The system  300  includes users  24   a  and  24   b,  a payment platform  23 , and merchants  21   a  and  21   b,  all of which are connected through the network  25 . 
         [0059]    The system  300  further includes one or more intermediary platform  22  that is used for providing discounted product information to customers such as the users  24   a  and  24   b.  The intermediary platform  22  is a node in the network  25  and may be visited by the users  24   a  and  24   b.  In some embodiments, the intermediary platform  22  may be a local area network or simply a single terminal computer. In other embodiments, the intermediary platform  22  may be provided by the payment platform  23  or by other platforms. In yet another embodiment, the intermediary platform  22  may be a merchant website. 
         [0060]    In one embodiment, the intermediary platform  22  is communicatively coupled to the network  25  and includes an intermediary platform server  221  and an intermediary platform database  222 . 
         [0061]    The intermediary platform server  221  includes a synchronization processing unit  223 , a transaction request processing unit  224 , and an interaction unit  225 . The synchronization processing unit  223  receives uploaded or modified discounted product information that is provided by the merchants  21   a  and  21   b  on a regular basis or on an event-triggered basis. The synchronization processing unit  223  displays the discounted product information from the merchants  21   a  and  21   b  at a predetermined linked position(s). The transaction request processing unit  224  receives a transaction request for purchasing discounted product(s) from the user  24   a  or  24   b,  sends the transaction request to each merchant  21   a,    21   b  that is corresponding to the discounted product(s) to be purchased, and receives returned transaction result(s). The interaction unit  225  establishes interaction with external devices including external devices of the merchants  21   a  and  21   b  and the users  24   a  and  24   b.    
         [0062]    The intermediary platform database  222  includes a merchant information storage unit  226  and a transaction information storage unit  227 . The merchant information storage unit  226  stores merchant address information that links to the merchants  21   a,    21   b  and a correlation between the discounted product information and the respective merchant  21   a  or  21   b.  The transaction information storage unit  227  stores transaction information of each transaction, which includes merchant information, user information, product information, and transaction result information that are associated with the transaction. 
         [0063]    In some embodiments, the synchronization processing  223  and the transaction request processing unit  224  are logical units and are implemented in software. Alternatively, they can be implemented in hardware in the form of a server or a processor of a server. 
         [0064]    In one embodiment, the merchant  21  includes an intermediary platform handling software, for example, installed on a processor. In another embodiment, a transaction request receiving unit  211  is further included and is used for receiving a transaction request sent from the intermediary platform  22 , obtaining information of product(s) to be purchased by the user  24  as well as user information, and sending associated transaction information to the payment platform  23 , for completing subsequent product shipment according to a transaction result returned from the payment platform  23 . 
         [0065]    A transaction can be completed directly on an existing payment platform  23 . Alternatively, software in an existing payment platform  23  may be upgraded to support an online transaction that is based on an intermediary platform. 
         [0066]    In one embodiment, completion of an entire online transaction can be achieved using registration information of the user  24  in the payment platform, thereby avoiding the user  24  from requiring registration in the intermediary platform  22  and a website of the merchant  21 . The payment platform  23  includes a payment platform server and a payment platform database. The payment platform server includes at least a user processing unit, which is used for receiving user identity requests including user registration and user login. The payment platform database includes at least a user information storage unit, which is used for storing correspondence relationships among various user characteristics information including a username and a password associated with user registration, user identity information, a user address and a payment account of the user. 
         [0067]    In one embodiment, the user processing unit is implemented in software while the user information storage unit is a storage unit in a database. The storage unit is defined from a logical point of view, and needs not be limited to a single physical storage space. Specifically, based on existing storage technology, the user information storage unit may include a piece of consecutive storage space in one embodiment or unconnected storage spaces in the database in an alternative embodiment. Similarly, a storage unit in a database in the present disclosure is defined according to a logical point of view but is not limited to a single physical storage space. 
         [0068]    In one embodiment, the intermediary platform server  221  of the intermediary platform  22  further includes a registered payment platform user processing unit, which is used for receiving a request for logging onto the intermediary platform  22  using a username registered in the payment platform  23  from the user  24 , for example, receiving a request of logging using a username registered in the payment platform  23  from the user  24 , sending the request to the payment platform  23 , and permitting login by the user  24  upon successful verification by the payment platform  23 . In one embodiment, the merchant  21  includes a registered payment platform user transaction processing unit  212 , which is communicatively coupled with the transaction request receiving unit  211  and is used for linking registered user information in the payment platform  24  which has been parsed out by the transaction request receiving unit  211  to relevant user-related information obtained by the payment platform  23 . 
         [0069]    It should be noted that the merchant  21  and the intermediary platform  22  may be independent user registration systems. Specifically, prior to logging onto the intermediary platform  22 , the user  24  may need to register to become a registered user of the intermediary platform  22  in advance. After the intermediary platform  22  sends transaction request information to relevant merchant  21 , the merchant  21  first determines whether the user  24  is a registered user thereof. If the user  24  is a registered user, the merchant  21  processes the transaction request information. Otherwise, the merchant  21  first requires the user  24  to register to become a registered user of the merchant  21 . One preferred embodiment of the present disclosure is to set up a registered payment platform user processing unit in the intermediary platform server  221  and a registered payment platform user transaction processing unit  212  in the merchant  21  as described above. 
         [0070]    In one embodiment, the intermediary platform server  221  further includes a payment platform processing unit  228 , which is communicatively coupled with the transaction request processing unit  224  and is used for sending transaction request information to the payment platform  23  and receiving a payment feedback returned from the payment platform  23 . In one embodiment, the payment platform  23  includes an intermediary platform transaction request processing unit  231 , which is used for receiving a transaction request from the intermediary platform  22 , recognizing the same transaction request sent from the merchant  24  through a serial trading number, and sending a transaction result to the intermediary platform  22  either through the merchant  21  or directly from the payment platform  23 . 
         [0071]    The transaction request information sent by the payment platform processing unit  228  includes a serial trading number, and is determined by the intermediary platform transaction request processing unit  231  to be the same transaction request or not based on the serial trading number. The serial trading number may have been agreed upon in advance by the intermediary platform  22  and the payment platform  23 . For example, a serial trading number may have N1 number of bits with the first N2 bits being a characteristic number of the intermediary platform, and bits between the N3 th  bit and the N4 th  bit being transaction-related information such as a transaction time. The intermediary platform transaction request processing unit  231  may store transaction information for different intermediary platforms  22  and according to different periodic time cycles. In one embodiment, the payment platform  23  further includes a profit-sharing unit  232 , which is used for completing profit sharing with various intermediary platforms  22  according to predetermined profit-sharing setting(s). 
         [0072]      FIG. 4  shows a flow chart of a first exemplary method  400  of conducting an online transaction through an intermediary platform. This method is suitable for use in an online transaction platform that is connected with a user, a payment platform and a merchant through a network such as the Internet. 
         [0073]    At block S 110 , an intermediary platform is provided, and link between the intermediary platform and merchants with which a contractual relationship exists is established. The intermediary platform may also be linked to other preexisting intermediary platforms. 
         [0074]    In one embodiment, an intermediary platform similar to a merchant website is set up in advance, with the intermediary platform being a node in the Internet. In a preferred embodiment, the intermediary platform is provided by a payment platform. In this way, the intermediary platform can utilize existing resources of the payment platform, e.g., customer resources. In another preferred embodiment, the intermediary platform is provided by another preexisting intermediary platform, such as TaoBao.com or DangDang.com. As such, the intermediary platform can utilize the resources of the preexisting intermediary platform, e.g., merchant resources. 
         [0075]    At block S 120 , a merchant or a preexisting intermediary platform linked to the intermediary platform synchronizes with the intermediary platform with respect to product discount information, and the intermediary platform displays the product discount information at predetermined linked position(s). 
         [0076]    In one embodiment, the merchant or the preexisting intermediary platform may enter into a contractual relationship with the intermediary platform which records information of the merchant or the preexisting intermediary platform. If the intermediary platform is provided by a payment platform, then the merchant or the preexisting intermediary platform can be a registered user of the payment platform, and the agreed-upon contract can include transaction information such as, for example, a profit-sharing ratio. 
         [0077]    In one embodiment, the merchant or the preexisting intermediary platform updates its product discount information displayed by the intermediary platform on a regular basis, e.g., daily or weekly. Alternatively, the update may be triggered by an event, e.g., when the price of a new product is discounted. By sending product discount information to the intermediary platform to be displayed in such fashion, the merchant or the preexisting intermediary platform can provide the most current product discount information for access by users at predetermined linked position(s). In one embodiment, the intermediary platform displays the product discount information at web address(es) agreed upon with the merchant. Alternatively, the product discount information may be displayed at predetermined web address(es) according to an order that such information is received and stored by the intermediary platform, for example. In one embodiment, the merchant or the preexisting intermediary platform synchronizes additions and/or modifications to the product discount information with the intermediary platform. In one embodiment, the product discount information includes a product name, a product price, and beginning and ending times of associated discount. 
         [0078]    At block S 130 , upon receiving a transaction request from a user, the intermediary platform forwards the transaction request and information of the user to each relevant merchant. 
         [0079]    In one embodiment, a user needs to first register to become a registered user of the intermediary platform before logging onto the intermediary platform. In another embodiment, a user of the intermediary platform can be a registered user of a payment platform. If the user is a registered user of a payment platform, the intermediary platform forwards login information of the user to the payment platform when the user attempts to log onto the intermediary platform. The user is only allowed to log onto the intermediary platform upon successful verification of the user&#39;s identity by the payment platform. 
         [0080]    For each product a user sends a transaction request to purchase, the intermediary platform sends the transaction request to the relevant merchant. For example, a user may send to the intermediary platform transaction requests for the purchase of two discounted products. If these two discounted products belong to the same merchant, the intermediary platform forwards the transaction requests to that merchant. The transaction request includes information of the discounted products to be purchased (e.g., product serial number and price) and user information. If the user is a registered user of a payment platform, information such as a username of the user registered with the payment platform is sent to the relevant merchant along with the information of the discounted products. If the two discounted products belong to two different merchants, the intermediary platform correspondingly forwards each transaction request, along with the user information, to the respective one of the two merchants. 
         [0081]    At block S 140 , the merchant generates a purchase order and sends the purchase order to the payment platform. 
         [0082]    In one embodiment, upon receiving the transaction request, the merchant generates a purchase order and sends the purchase order to the payment platform. The purchase order includes, for example, user information and purchase information. 
         [0083]    At block S 150 , the payment platform completes a payment made by the user, and returns payment result to the merchant and to the intermediary platform either through the merchant or directly to the intermediary platform. 
         [0084]    In one embodiment, upon receiving a purchase order, the payment platform parses out the user information from the purchase order. If the user is determined to be a registered user of the payment platform, information of the user (including, for example, user identity information, a previous delivery address of the user, a user purchase record and a payment record of the user) is obtained from the database of the payment platform for processing the payment. If the user&#39;s account has sufficient funds, the payment is processed. If, however there is insufficient fund, the user is notified to recharge the user&#39;s account before the payment can be processed. Because the payment process is well known in the art, details thereof are not repeated herein in the interest of brevity. 
         [0085]    As the payment platform returns the payment result, such as successful completion of payment for example, to the merchant, the merchant proceeds to send the purchased product to the user&#39;s delivery address. In one embodiment, the payment result is returned to the intermediary platform from the payment platform. Alternatively, the payment result is returned to the intermediary platform via the merchant. 
         [0086]    At block S 160 , the merchant completes shipment process based on the payment result. 
         [0087]    The can be various scenarios related to user login. In one embodiment, a user registers a new username with the intermediary platform or uses a registered username of the payment platform to log onto the intermediary platform. Alternatively, the user registers a new username with the merchant, uses a username registered with the payment platform, or uses a username registered with the intermediary platform to log onto the merchant website. In one embodiment, logging onto the intermediary platform and various merchant websites is performed using a username registered with the payment platform in order to achieve the advantage of allowing user login without requiring registration with each merchant and intermediary platform, thus providing convenience for the user. This also greatly reduces the waste of storage space and improves security of online transactions. 
         [0088]    In one embodiment, when the intermediary platform receives from a user a login request that uses a username registered with the payment platform, the intermediary platform sends the request to the payment platform and allows the user&#39;s login upon successful verification by the payment platform. The intermediary platform sends a transaction request to a relevant merchant with the transaction request including the user&#39;s username that is registered with the payment platform. After the merchant receives the transaction request, of the username registered with the payment platform is parsed out and stored by the merchant. The merchant creates a purchase order which includes the username of the user that is registered with the payment platform. Upon receiving a payment result, the merchant completes product delivery using the user information (which includes a shipping address of the user) obtained from the payment result. 
         [0089]    In one embodiment, the intermediary platform directly communicates with various merchants and directly negotiates profit-sharing ratios with other intermediary platforms without going through the payment platform directly. Alternatively, the intermediary platform directly communicates with the payment platform and negotiates a profit-sharing ratio with the payment platform. When a transaction request is sent from the intermediary platform to a merchant, the transaction request includes a serial trading number. The intermediary platform also sends to the payment platform a transaction request which includes the serial trading number. The payment platform determines the same transaction information based on the serial trading number and sends payment result of the transaction to the merchant and the intermediary platform. Afterwards, the payment platform completes profit-sharing operation with the intermediary platform according to the profit-sharing ratio. 
         [0090]    The intermediary platform described above is similar to a merchant that merely provides a display function and does not participate in a transaction. In other embodiments, the transaction is conducted directly through a payment platform. 
         [0091]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic structural diagram of a second exemplary system  500  of conducting an online transaction through an intermediary platform. The system  500  includes users  34   a  and  34   b,  payment platform  33 , and merchants  31   a  and  31   b.  The users  34   a  and  34   b,  the payment platform  33 , and the merchants  31   a  and  31   b  are connected through the network  35 , such as the Internet for example. 
         [0092]    The system  500  further includes an intermediary platform  32  that provides product discount information to customers. The intermediary platform  32  is connected to the network  35  and includes an intermediary platform server  321  and an intermediary platform database  322 . 
         [0093]    In one embodiment, the intermediary platform server  321  includes a synchronization processing unit  323 , a transaction request processing unit  324 , a payment platform processing unit  325 , a merchant processing unit  326 , and an interaction unit  327 . The synchronization processing unit  323  is used for receiving uploaded or modified product discount information provided by the merchant  31   a  or  31   b  on a regular basis or on an event-triggered basis, and for displaying the product discount information of the merchant  31   a  or  31   b  at one or more predetermined linked positions. The transaction request processing unit  324  is used for receiving a transaction request for purchase of discounted product(s) from the user  34   a  or  34   b,  and for creating a purchase order. The payment platform processing unit  325  is used for sending the purchase order to the payment platform  33  and receiving a payment result from the payment platform  33 . The merchant processing unit  326 , which is communicatively coupled with the payment platform processing unit  325 , is used for sending a transaction message of successful payment to the merchant  31   a  or  31   b  which then completes shipment. The interaction unit  327  is used for establishing interaction with external devices including external devices of the merchant  31   a  and  31   b  and the user  34   a  and  34   b.    
         [0094]    In one embodiment, the intermediary platform database  322  includes a merchant information storage unit  328  and a transaction information storage unit  329 . The merchant information storage unit  328  is used for storing merchant address information that links to the merchant  31   a  or  31   b  and a correlation between the product discount information and the merchant  31   a  or  31   b.  The transaction information storage unit  329  is used for storing transaction information of each transaction, which includes, for example, merchant information, user information, product information and transaction result information that are associated with the transaction. 
         [0095]    In one embodiment, the merchant  31   a  includes a transaction request receiving unit  311 , which is used for receiving the transaction message of successful payment from the intermediary platform  32 , obtaining information of product(s) to be purchased by the user  34   a  or  34   b  as well as user information, and completing subsequent shipment. 
         [0096]    In one embodiment, the payment platform  33  includes a payment platform server and a payment platform database. The payment platform server includes at least a user processing unit, which is used for receiving user identity requests including user registration and user login. The payment platform database includes at least a user information storage unit, which is used for storing correlations among various user-related information including usernames and passwords associated with user registration, user identity information, user addresses and the payment account of each registered user. In one embodiment, the intermediary platform server  321  of the intermediary platform  32  further includes a registered payment platform user processing unit, which is used for receiving a request for logging onto the intermediary platform  32  using a username registered with the payment platform  33  from the user  34   a  or  34   b,  sending the request to the payment platform  33 , and permitting login upon successful verification by the payment platform  33 . 
         [0097]    In one embodiment, the payment platform server further includes a profit-sharing unit, which is used for completing profit sharing with the intermediary platform  32  according to predetermined profit-sharing setting(s). 
         [0098]      FIG. 6  shows a flow chart of a second exemplary method  600  of conducting an online transaction through an intermediary platform. The method  600  is suitable for use in an online transaction platform that is connected with a user, a payment platform, and a merchant through the Internet. 
         [0099]    At block S 210 , an intermediary platform is provided, and link between the intermediary platform and merchants with which a contractual relationship exists is established. 
         [0100]    At block S 220 , the merchant or the intermediary platform synchronizes product discount information to be displayed on the intermediary platform on a regular basis or on an event-triggered basis. The intermediary platform then displays the product discount information at predetermined linked position(s). 
         [0101]    At block S 230 , upon receiving a transaction request from a user, the intermediary platform creates a purchase order according to information contained in the transaction request and user information, and sends the purchase order to the payment platform. 
         [0102]    At block S 240 , the payment platform completes the payment made by the user and returns a payment result to the intermediary platform. 
         [0103]    At block S 250 , the intermediary platform returns a transaction message of successful payment to relevant merchant. The merchant completes the shipment of the purchased product thereafter, based on the returned payment result. 
         [0104]    Furthermore, the payment platform regularly performs profit-sharing operations with the intermediary platform according to predetermined profit-sharing ratio(s). 
         [0105]    In one embodiment, after receiving from a user a request of logging onto the intermediary platform using a username registered with the payment platform, the intermediary platform sends the request to the payment platform and permits the user&#39;s login only upon successful verification by the payment platform. When sending a request of purchase order to the payment platform, the intermediary platform includes information of the username of the user that is registered with the payment platform. Upon receiving a payment result, the merchant obtains user information which includes a shipping address of the user from the payment result and completes delivery. 
         [0106]    Described above are only a few exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to those embodiments. Any modifications based on the present disclosure made by an ordinarily skilled person in the art should be considered to fall within the scope of the claims of the present disclosure and their equivalents.