| 摘要 |
A method for making electronic payments without a preexisting account relationship. This system may be used by any person who has access to the system via a personal computer, such as through the Internet. Access to the system may be provided through the system's own home page or by a system icon that is present of the home pages of the merchants who have elected the system as one of their payment options. Once the system has been accessed by the user, the user will be able to select from a list of companies who have previously agreed to accept electronic funds transfers from the system as payments on their customer's accounts. It is not necessary for the user to have previously established a relationship with the system provider in order to use the system to make payments on his accounts (although the system may record the user's personal data after first use in order to make subsequent uses more convenient). The user may select whether he wishes to pay from his bank checking account, or through one of several credit cards. After the selection, the user is prompted to input his bank account number or credit card account number information, as well as the amount he wishes to pay. Once this information has been entered satisfactorily, the user selects a "send" icon, the data is encrypted and sent to the system central computer via the Internet. The data remains in its encrypted form until it reaches the system's central computer. The system's central computer determines if the entered information is valid (and may also obtain an authorization) and, if so, sends a receipt message which is displayed on the user's computer screen. This receipt may be printed if the user desires to retain a hard copy verification of the transaction.
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