| 摘要 |
<p>A token based payment system is provided in which tokens data in the form of numeric or alphanumeric strings are purchased from authorized vendors to be used as credit in the purchase of goods or services, or in the payment of accounts or debts associated with a particular supplier. The supplier issues, directly or indirectly, bulk credit value, all or part of which is, upon request, transferable to any one of a series of retail terminals (18) associated with retail vendors to be recorded in a credit store (25) of such retail terminal. The retail terminals are adapted to issue user tokens (40) embodying smaller selected amounts of user credit value from such bulk credit value or part thereof to customers (43) of such retail vendor. Generally, wholesale terminals (2) associated with wholesale vendors are interposed between the supplier and retail terminal to provide a tiered sales structure. The tokens issued will generally have an identity code of the recipient embodied therein so that others cannot usefully employ the tokens thereby substantially enhancing security.</p> |
