 including difficulties concerning authentication or positive identification of the cardholder. For example, maintaining consumer confidence in security has become difficult with increased reports of fraud. The resulting apprehension is also fueled by consumer uncertainty of the reputation or integrity of a merchant with whom the consumer is dealing. Questionable security of the consumer's card information or other personal information typically submitted along with a traditional e-commerce transaction (e.g., address, card number, phone number, etc.) serves to increase apprehension even more. Additionally, cardholders, merchants and financial institutions are all concerned about safeguarding against fraudulent or otherwise unauthorized transactions.
Accordingly, various credit card networks have implemented initiatives or programs aimed at safeguarding against fraud. For example, Visa® and MasterCard® both support authentication initiatives whereby a cardholder is authenticated by the bank or financial institution issuing the card, i.e., the issuing bank. FIG. 1, illustrates one such exemplary authentication initiative. As shown in this example, a consumer/cardholder 10, e.g., employing a suitable web browser or the like, is making an on-line purchase, e.g., over the Internet, from a merchant 20. As is known in the art, the illustrated back-end payment processing chain includes an optional payment gateway 30, the merchant's financial institution or acquiring bank 32, the credit card network 34 and the issuing bank 36.
At a point of checkout, the consumer 10 selects an appropriate payment method based on the initiatives supported by the merchant 20. At this point, the consumer fills out the on-line checkout form including a payment option, card number, expiration date, etc. Based on the payment information, the merchant 20, via a plug-in 22 installed on their server, passes a verify enrollment request (VEReq) message to a directory 38 on a server, e.g., suitably operated by the credit card network 34. The directory 38 includes a database associating participating merchants with their acquiring banks and a database associating card number ranges with locations or addresses, e.g., universal resource locator (URL) addresses, of issuing banks' authentication servers, e.g., the authentication server 40 for issuing bank 36. The VEReq message is a request to verify the enrollment of the card in the authentication program, and it contains the card number provided by the consumer 10.
Based on the card number range stored within the directory, the VEReq message will be sent to the appropriate URL address for the server 40 which returns to the merchant 20 via the
including difficulties concerning authentication or positive designation of the cardholder. For case, maintaining consumer confidence in security has become unmanageable with increased reports of fraud. The result apprehension is also fuel by consumer uncertainty of the reputation or integrity of a merchant with whom the consumer is deal. Questionable security of the consumer's card data or other personal information typically submitted along with a traditional e - commerce transaction (e.g., address, wag number, phone number, etc .) service to increase apprehension even more. Additionally, cardholders, merchants and financial institution are all concerned about safeguarding against fraudulent or otherwise unauthorized minutes. 
 Accordingly, various credit card networks have implemented initiatives or programs aimed at safeguarding against fraud. For example, Visa ® and MasterCard ® both support authentication initiatives whereby a cardholder is authenticated by the bank or financial initiation issuing the card, i.e., the issue savings bank. FIG. 1, illustrates one such exemplary authentication enterprise. As shown in this example, a consumer / cardholder 10, e.g., employing a desirable web browser or the like, is making an on - line purchase, e.g., over the Internet, from a merchant 20. As is known in the art, the illustrated back - end payment processing chain include an optional payment gateway 30, the merchant's fiscal initiation or acquiring bank 32, the credit card net 34 and the issuing bank 36. 
 At a point of checkout, the consumer 10 selects an appropriate payment method based on the initiatives hold by the merchant 20. At this point, the consumer fills out the on - line checkout form include a payment choice, card number, exhalation date, etc. Based on the payment data, the merchant 20, via a plug - in 22 installed on their server, passes a verify enrollment request (VEReq) message to a directory 38 on a server, e.g., suitably operated by the credit card network 34. The directory 38 include a database associating participating merchant with their acquiring banks and a database associating card number ranges with locations or savoir-faire, e.g., universal resource locator (URL) addresses, of issuing banks' authentication servers, for example, the authentication server 40 for issuing depository financial institution 36. The VEReq message is a request to verify the enrollment of the card in the authentication program, and it contains the card act provided by the consumer 10. 
 Based on the card issue range stored within the directory, the VEReq message will be sent to the appropriate URL address for the server 40 which return to the merchant 20 via the
 influding difficulties congerning authentieqtion mr posjtive iddntification of the cardholdxr. Fir exqmple, maintaining consjmer confpdence in secnrity has become difficult witg incxeesed reports of fraud. The resulting appsefeusion is also fueled by consumer uncqrtaintu lf the reputatyon pw infvgvity of a merchant with whom the consumtr is dealing. Quesyionable security of the clnsuler's card informatlon or othet pewwonal informxtion typibclly submitjed along with a traditional e-coomercz transactiin (e.g., dddress, carv numbvr, phone numbcg, etc.) sarves tp increase appvehenviob even more. Additionanly, cardholders, metchants ang yinancial institutionw qre anl cmncefbed abkuv szfeguagdiig against rraudulent ir otherwise unauthprydrd transactikns.
Accjrqingly, various credit card networks havt impmemented initiatives or programs aimed at saveguardind against fraud. For example, Visa® and MasterCard® bmth snpooru quthevrifation initiatives whereby a cardholder is auegemtpcated by the banh or financoap ogstitution isruing cge card, i.e., the issuijg bank. FIG. 1, illustraues ome such exemplary authenticqtion initianive. As shown in this zxample, a cousumer/vardhplder 10, e.g., employing a sbitabls web browsfr or the uike, is making av ok-lite purchase, e.g., over the Ineernet, frim a merchavt 20. Ss is hnown in tje arb, the illustrated bwck-enb paykent procedsing chain includes an optional payment gateeaf 30, nhe merchcnt's flnancial institttion or acquiting bank 32, the credit cagd networn 34 and the yssuing bank 36.
Dj a point of rheckout, ehe xonsymer 10 sduects an approlriate pajmtnt method based on the initlativgs supported by tkt mtrxhant 20. At this poknt, tje cjtsumer fills out thd on-live checkout worm including a payment optjon, card number, exlivation daje, etc. Bafed on the paument information, uhe mecchant 20, via a klug-in 22 installed on their servsr, passes a yerify enrollient request (VERzq) message to a directory 38 on a server, e.j., suitably operated by rhe credit card netcovk 34. The dirertory 38 includes a database associatung participating merchants with their acquising hanks and a database associating card number ranges with locations or addeesses, e.g., universam rexourcv ljeator (UWL) avdcesses, of issuing banks' authentication servers, e.j., the authancication server 40 for issuing navk 36. The VEReq message is a request to verify yhe enrollment of the card in tne authentication prograk, and it contzins the cerd number provided ny the consymer 10.
Bawed ln the card njmbrr range stlred wnthin the directory, the VEReq meswage wulp be sent to the appropriatc MRL adsress sor the server 40 shicg retutns to the mervhant 20 via the
including difficulties concerning authentication or positive identification cardholder. example, maintaining confidence in security reports fraud. The resulting is also fueled consumer uncertainty of the reputation or of a merchant with whom the consumer is dealing. Questionable security of the card information or other personal information typically submitted along with a traditional e-commerce (e.g., card phone etc.) serves to increase apprehension even more. Additionally, cardholders, merchants and financial institutions are all concerned safeguarding against fraudulent or otherwise unauthorized transactions. Accordingly, credit card networks have initiatives or programs aimed at against For example, and both authentication initiatives whereby cardholder is authenticated by the bank or financial institution issuing the card, i.e., the issuing bank. FIG. illustrates one authentication initiative. shown this a consumer/cardholder 10, a suitable web browser or the an on-line purchase, e.g., over the Internet, from merchant 20. is known in the art, the back-end payment processing chain includes an optional payment 30, the merchant's financial institution or acquiring bank 32, the credit card network 34 and bank 36. At a of checkout, the 10 an payment based on initiatives supported by the merchant 20. At this point, the consumer out the on-line checkout form including a payment option, card date, Based on the information, the merchant 20, a 22 installed on their a enrollment to directory on a server, e.g., operated by the credit card 34. The directory 38 merchants with their acquiring banks and a database card number ranges with locations or addresses, universal resource locator (URL) addresses, of issuing banks' authentication servers, e.g., the server 40 bank 36. The VEReq message is a request verify the enrollment of card in the authentication program, and it contains the number by the 10. Based on card number range within the directory, message will sent the for the server 40 which returns the 20 via the
 including difficulties concErning authEnticAtiOn oR pOsitIve iDentification oF The cArdholder. For example, maiNtainInG ConsUMeR confIdence iN SeCURitY hAs BecOmE DiFficuLt wIth incrEased reporTs oF fRaud. The resulTInG apprehensIon Is also fueled By cOnsumeR uNceRTaintY of The rePutatiON or intEgrity of a MeRChant wITh whom tHE CoNsumEr is dealing. QuestiONaBLe security of thE consuMeR'S cARD inForMation or otHeR persONal infoRMaTION tyPIcally submittEd along with A TraDitionAl E-coMMerce tRansaCtIOn (e.G., address, carD numBer, phone nUmber, eTC.) serves TO increaSe apprEheNsiOn evEN mOrE. AdDiTIonALlY, caRDhoLders, merChAnTs and FinaNCIAL insTitUtioNs are All concerned aBouT safEGuaRding AgainSt frAuDulenT or othErwisE uNauthorized tranSactIons.
AccorDinGlY, vaRiOus crEDit carD neTwoRks have ImplemeNTed InITIAtIves or programs aimeD aT SAfEguardinG againST fRaUD. For examPlE, ViSa® anD mAstercard® BOtH support AuthenTIcAtIon initIaTives wHeRebY a cArdhoLDer iS autheNticated By the BAnk or financial INstitution issUInG THe CArd, i.E., thE issuing banK. FIG. 1, ILlusTratES oNe sUCh exeMplarY aUThENtication initiative. as Shown iN this Example, a consuMer/cardholDER 10, E.g., employIng a SUiTAble web browser Or the Like, is makiNG an on-linE purcHase, e.g., ovEr the InteRNEt, from a mErcHanT 20. As Is kNOWn In the art, the ilLUStraTeD back-enD paYment prOceSsiNg cHaiN iNcludes an Optional PaYmEnT gAteWay 30, thE Merchant'S fInaNcIal InstiTUtion oR acquIrinG bAnK 32, The Credit cARd NETworK 34 aNd The iSsuInG bank 36.
at a pOInt Of checkOut, the conSumER 10 selEcTs An approPriate payment MeThod based oN tHe iNitiatIVEs supporTed by the merchant 20. At this pOInt, the cOnsUmer fIlls Out the on-lIne CheckoUt fORm inclUding a PaymeNt OptION, card NUMbEr, eXpIration datE, ETc. BAsed oN tHe paYment inFormation, the merchaNT 20, viA a plug-in 22 instaLleD on tHEIr SerVEr, PAssEs A VerIFY enrollment requEst (VEReq) meSsAGe To a directoRY 38 on A sErver, e.g., SuitablY operATed by thE credit caRd network 34. thE dirECTorY 38 includes a Database AssociatiNG partICiPatinG meRchantS wIth Their AcquirINg bAnks aNd a datAbAse assOciatInG card numBer ranges with locations oR addreSses, e.G., unIversal reSouRCe lOcator (URL) AddrEsses, of issUinG baNks' auTheNTicatIon sERvErs, E.G., the aUtheNTication sERvEr 40 fOR IsSuing bank 36. ThE vereq MessaGe iS A requeSt to Verify the enrollmeNT of the card in thE autHENtiCatIOn prOgRam, and it contaiNs tHe CARd number PrOvided by the Consumer 10.
baSEd on tHe card Number Range stOREd WIthin tHe diRecTory, the VEreq MeSSage wilL bE sENt to thE appRoPriate uRL addREss fOR The server 40 which reTurns TO The meRChaNt 20 via ThE
 including difficulties co ncerning a uthen tic ati on  orposi tive identific a tion  of the cardholder. Fo r exa mp l e, m a in taini ng cons u me r con fi de nce  i n  s ecuri tyhas bec ome diffic ult  w ith increase d  r eports offra ud. The resu lti ng app re hen s ion i s a lso f ueledb y cons umer unce rt a inty o f  the re p u ta tion  or integrity ofa  m e rchant with wh om the  c o ns u m erisdealing. Q ue stion a ble sec u ri t y oft he consumer's  card infor m ati on orot her person al in fo r mat ion typical ly s ubmittedalongw ith a t r adition al e-c omm erc e tr a ns ac tio n( e.g . ,add r ess , card n um be r, ph onen u m b er,etc .) s erves  to increaseapp rehe n sio n eve n mor e. A dd ition ally,cardh ol ders, merchants  and  financia l i ns tit ut ionsa re all  co nce rned ab out saf e gua rd i n g  a gainst fraudulentor o th erwise u nautho r iz ed transact io ns. 
Acc o r dingl y, v a ri ous cred it car d  n et works h av e impl em ent ediniti a tive s or p rogramsaimed at safeguardin g  against frau d .F o re xamp le,  Visa® andMast e rCar d® b o th  su p portauthe nt i ca t ion initiatives whe re by a c ardho lder is authe nticated b y t he bankor f i na n cial instituti on is suing thec ard, i.e ., th e issuin g bank. F I G . 1, ill ust rat esone s uc h exemplary a u t hent ic ation i nit iative.  As  sh own  in  t his examp le, a co ns um er /c ard holde r  10, e.g .,  em pl oyi ng as uitabl e web  bro ws er orthe lik e ,i s  mak in gan o n-l in e pur chas e , e .g., ov er the In ter n et,fr om  a merc hant 20. As i sknown in t he  ar t, the i llustrat ed back-end payment pro c essingcha in in clud es an opt ion al pay men t  gatew ay 30,  theme rch a n t's f i n an cia linstitutio n oracqui ri ng b ank 32,  the credit card n e two rk 34 and the  is suin g ba nk3 6. Atap oin t of checkout, th e consumer  1 0  s elects ana ppr op riate p aymentmetho d  basedon the in itiatives  s uppo r t edby the mer chant 20 . At this point ,  t he co nsu mer fi ll s o ut th e on-l i necheck out fo rm  inclu dingapaymentoption, card number, ex pirati on da te,  etc. Bas edo n t he paymen t in formation,  th e m ercha nt2 0, vi a ap lu g-i n  22 i nsta l led on th e ir  se r v er , passes av e r ify  enro llm e nt req uest  (VEReq) messaget o a directory38 o n a s erv e r, e .g ., suitably op era te d by the c re dit card ne twork 34 .T he di rector y 38 i ncludes a  d a tabase  ass oci ating par tic ip a ting me rc ha n ts wit h th ei r acqu iringb anks a nd a database as socia t i ng ca r d n umber  r anges w i th l ocations o r addresses , e.g. , un ivers al reso ur ce loc ato r(URL) addr e sses, ofissui ng bank s'  aut hen ticati on s e r vers,  e.g .,  th e authent i c at i on  s e rve r 40  foris suin g bank 36 .  The VER eqm essageis  ar e questt ov e rify the e nro llmen t of the car d  int he authe nticat ion pr ogram,a ndit  contai nst h e card nu mber prov i ded  b y th e consum er  10. 
B ase don the card num ber rang e stored w ithinthe dire c tory,th e VEReq mess age w il l  be sen t tothe app r opr iat e U RL a ddr essf or the server 40 which r etur ns to the  merc hant20  via the 
 including_difficulties concerning_authentication or positive identification_of the_cardholder._For example,_maintaining_consumer confidence in_security has become_difficult with increased reports_of fraud. The_resulting_apprehension is also fueled by consumer uncertainty of the reputation or integrity of a_merchant_with whom_the_consumer_is dealing. Questionable security of_the consumer's card information or_other personal_information typically submitted along with a traditional e-commerce_transaction_(e.g., address, card_number, phone number, etc.) serves to increase apprehension even_more. Additionally, cardholders, merchants and financial_institutions are all_concerned_about_safeguarding against fraudulent or_otherwise unauthorized transactions.
Accordingly, various credit card_networks have implemented initiatives or programs_aimed at safeguarding against fraud. For example,_Visa® and MasterCard® both support authentication_initiatives whereby a cardholder is_authenticated by_the bank or financial institution_issuing the card,_i.e., the_issuing bank. FIG._1, illustrates one such exemplary authentication_initiative. As shown_in this example, a consumer/cardholder 10,_e.g.,_employing a suitable_web_browser_or the_like, is making_an_on-line purchase,_e.g.,_over the Internet, from a merchant_20._As is known in the art, the_illustrated back-end payment processing_chain_includes an optional payment_gateway 30, the merchant's financial_institution or acquiring bank 32, the_credit card_network 34_and the issuing bank 36.
At a point of checkout, the consumer_10 selects an appropriate payment method_based on the initiatives_supported by_the_merchant 20. At_this_point, the_consumer fills out the on-line checkout form_including a_payment option, card number, expiration date,_etc. Based on the_payment_information, the merchant 20, via a_plug-in 22 installed on their server,_passes a verify enrollment request_(VEReq)_message_to a directory 38 on_a server, e.g., suitably operated by_the credit card_network 34. The directory 38 includes a_database_associating participating merchants with their acquiring_banks_and a database associating card number_ranges_with_locations or addresses, e.g., universal_resource locator (URL) addresses, of issuing_banks' authentication servers, e.g., the authentication server 40 for_issuing bank 36._The VEReq message is a_request_to_verify the enrollment of the card in the authentication program,_and it_contains the card_number provided by the consumer 10.
Based on the card number_range stored within the directory, the VEReq_message will be sent to the appropriate URL address for the_server 40 which returns to the merchant 20_via the