| 摘要 |
<p>An online purchase system (100) that provides a universally accessible, anonymous and secure online payment option for consumers. A user (103) pays cash and receives a serial number. The serial number may be imprinted on a cash card (111) or the like for convenience. The user accesses an online proxy system (107), which establishes a cash account (125) using the serial number and allows the user to conduct online transactions using the cash account. The user accesses the cash account (125) with a user ID (127) and password (129), which may be arbitrarily chosen to maintain anonymity. The proxy system (107) includes at least one universally accepted charge account (147) that is used to conduct transactions on behalf of the user (103). The user surfs the Internet (101) for goods and services of online merchants (105). The user selects items to purchase and indicates the desire to purchase the selected items by selecting or interfacing a buy button (145) or the like. The proxy system (107) intercepts the purchase request, compares the user s account balance (131) with the total purchase amount (143) to verify sufficient funds, adjusts the account balance (131) if there are sufficient funds, and populates a purchase page (141) from the merchant with valid charge account information to complete the purchase. The cash cards (111) may be dispensed at a currency receiving vending machine, dispensing unit (109) or the like. The serial number incorporates a monetary value, and may further include sponsor, dispensing unit, or temporal information as desired.</p> |
