Block, Inc.
DEFERRED TRANSACTION PROCESSING

Abstract:

An automated online payment system may be used to process purchase payments between a buyer and a seller. When a payment is requested, the payment system may determine whether the corresponding purchase satisfies a purchase criterion, and if so, may defer certain aspects of settling the payment. For example, the payment service may determine the risk of deferred settlement and the likelihood that the buyer will make a subsequent purchase from the seller within a relatively short time period. If there is a low risk and high likelihood of a future purchase, the payment service may authorize the payment, but may defer capture of the payment until the buyer makes the subsequent purchase.