A multi-agent architecture for electronic payment

The Internet has brought about innumerable changes to the way enterprises do business. An essential problem to be solved before the widespread commercial use of the Internet is to provide a trustworthy solution for electronic payment. We propose a multi-agent mediated electronic payment architecture in this paper. It is aimed at providing an agent-based approach to accommodate multiple e-payment schemes. Through a layered design of the payment structure and a well-defined uniform payment interface, the architecture shows good scalability. When a new e-payment scheme or implementation is available, it can be plugged into the framework easily. In addition, we construct a framework allowing multiple agents to work cooperatively to realize automation of electronic payment. A prototype has been built to illustrate the functionality of this design. Finally we discuss the security issues

Personal on-line payments

The swift growth of e-commerce and the Internet has led to the development of a new form of electronic funds transfer—the personal on-line payment—that uses web and e-mail technologies to initiate and confirm payments. This article describes this payment instrument and the trends that have given rise to it. The authors explain that personal on-line payment systems are already providing a convenient alternative to checks, money orders, and cash, and may replace credit cards for some small-scale retail e-commerce. However, issues such as the interoperability of diverse systems and the systems’ inherent risks will continue to be central. The authors also suggest that although personal on-line payment systems are not likely to have a great impact on monetary policy, they do raise regulatory issues associated with consumer rights and protection.Electronic funds transfers ; Electronic commerce ; Payment systems ; Finance, Personal

The changing nature of the payments system: should new players mean new rules?

Traditional forms of payment, such as currency, coin, and paper checks, are quickly being eclipsed by electronic forms, such as payments made by ATM, credit card, or automated clearing house. More recently, smart cards, debit cards, and PC banking have joined this electronic army of new ways to make payments. A parallel development has been the entrance of many nonbank players into the payments arena. Nowadays, settlement and clearing can be done by entities that are not necessarily banks, the customary center of the U.S. payments system. As these new entrants grow in number and become more popular, concerns about regulating these newcomers have arisen. In this article, Loretta Mester documents changes in the use of various forms of retail payments and outlines some of the regulatory concerns as she considers the question, Should new players mean new rules?Payment systems

A modularized electronic payment system for agent-based e-commerce

With the explosive growth of the Internet, electronic-commerce (e-commerce) is an increasingly important segment of commercial activities on the web. The Secure Agent Fabrication, Evolution & Roaming (SAFER) architecture was proposed to further facilitate e-commerce using agent technology. In this paper, the electronic payment aspect of SAFER will be explored. The Secure Electronic Transaction (SET) protocol and E-Cash were selected as the bases for the electronic payment system implementation. The various modules of the payment system and how they interface with each other are shown. An extensible implementation done using JavaTM will also be elaborated. This application incorporates agent roaming functionality and the ability to conduct e-commerce transactions and carry out intelligent e-payment procedures

The Monetary Control Act and the role of the Federal Reserve in the interbank clearing market

The Monetary Control Act of 1980 radically changed the role of the Federal Reserve in the interbank clearing market. Among other things, the Act required the Fed to give all depository institutions equal access to its payments services and to price those services competitively. In this article, Anatoli Kuprianov explains why Congress legislated this change. At least three developments in the 1970s, including the introduction of electronic payments systems, the deregulation of the thrift industry, and the decline in membership in the Federal Reserve System, forced consideration of the questions of access to and pricing of Fed services. Because of the complex issues involved, the debate could only be resolved through comprehensive legislation which addressed all of them simultaneously.Monetary policy ; Federal Reserve banks

Recent developments in wholesale payments systems

Wholesale payments and settlement systems in G-10 countries have undergone significant change in recent years. Notably, central banks have sought to increase the safety and reliability of these systems. In this article, William R. Emmons describes two approaches that have been pursued. Significant progress has been achieved in strengthening (or "securing") many existing payments system arrangements based on net settlement. In addition, many new gross settlement systems have been created, and existing ones have been improved. The article also explores why private-sector financial institutions often prefer to upgrade and secure existing net settlement systems, despite central bank preferences for the latter.Payment systems ; Electronic funds transfers ; Fedwire ; Risk

Texas Business Review, January 1976

The Business Situation in Texas; The Last Hundred Years; The Next Hundred Years; Electric Funds Transference: Development and Prospects; Texas Construction: Four Decades of ChangeBureau of Business Researc