Patent ID: 7797235

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for providing an online cash register on behalf of a seller in an online commerce system to enable offering one or more payment instrument types to a buyer in connection with a transaction between the buyer and the seller, the online commerce system including a buyer computer operated by the buyer, a seller computer operated by the seller, and a transaction facilitator comprising a network-accessible transaction computer that facilitates commercial transactions between buyers and sellers, the method comprising: receiving information from the seller computer indicative of a request for the online cash register, the information including identification information associated with the seller; communicating, to the seller computer for display to the seller, information corresponding to a plurality of selectable payment instrument types that can be selected by the seller for offering to the buyer upon qualification; receiving selection of at least one of the selectable payment instrument types from the seller; communicating, to the seller computer for display to the seller, information requesting provision of underwriting assessment information from the seller that is required for qualification of the at least one selected payment instrument type; receiving underwriting assessment information from the seller computer corresponding to the at least one selected payment instrument type; based on the underwriting assessment information corresponding to the at least one selected payment instrument type, performing an underwriting assessment; in response to receipt of an approval of the at least one selected payment instrument type, storing information indicating that the seller is permitted to offer the at least one selected payment instrument type to the buyer in connect with the transaction facilitated by the transaction facilitator; and thereafter communicating the online cash register to the buyer computer for display to the buyer, the online cash register comprising information corresponding to the at least one selected and permitted payment instrument type for selection by the buyer for use in connection with the transaction.