Patent ID: 7035832

Claim:
A method operable on a general multi-purpose processor-based system for authorizing a transaction to be conducted utilizing a particular provider, wherein information with respect to said transaction as conducted by each of a plurality of providers is presented for selection of said particular provider through the use of said general multi-purpose processor-based system that will execute a computer program in addition to a computer program operable for authorizing said transaction to be conducted, said method comprising the steps of: determining desired transaction parameters; determining a value of said transaction associated with two or more of said plurality of providers and a number of available services utilizing ones of said transaction parameters; presenting each of said determined values, services, and differences between the services and the desired parameters to a user for comparison; selecting said particular provider as a function of said comparison of said ones of said plurality of providers; and obtaining authorization information acceptable by said particular provider in conducting said transactions: and printing said authorization information.