Patent ID: 7051002

Claim:
A system for supporting authentication processing of commercial transactions conducted over a communications network between a consumers and merchants, wherein the consumers are each using one of a plurality of different types of payment instruments, said used payment instrument being either enrolled or not enrolled in an authentication program conforming to one of a plurality of authentication protocols prescribed for the respective plurality of different types of payment instruments, the system comprising: a connection layer for connecting with the merchants to exchange communications therewith, said connection layer receiving payment information for the transactions from the merchants, said payment information for each transaction including a number identifying a particular payment instrument being used; a plug-in layer including a plurality of plug-in components, each plug-in component administering a different one of a plurality of authentication programs in accordance with the authentication protocols prescribed to obtain an authentication determination for the transactions; and, a distribution layer residing between the connection layer and the plug-in layer, said distribution layer determining from the payment information received for each transaction which of the different authentication program is prescribed for the type of payment instrument identified in the payment information, and routing communications between the connection layer and selected plug-in components in the plug-in layer, wherein said payment information for each transaction is routed to the plug-in component responsible for administering the authentication program for the particular payment instrument used for that transaction.