摘要 |
<p>A charge number issuing system and method that provides a universally acceptable, anonymous and secure payment option. The issuing system 107 receives a bin of valid purchase numbers 105 from an issuing bank 101 that are in the same format as universally-accepted credit numbers. The issuing system 107 detects a request for a charge number, such as via a telephonic network or an online purchase transaction between a user and a merchant 501 through a computer network 112, and provides a valid purchase number via the network. The user may then consummate a pending transaction or a subsequent transaction via the computer network 112 or the telephonic network 114 using the provided purchase number. The merchant clears the transaction through a charge settlement network 115, where the issuing system is pre-certified as processor for the valid purchase numbers. Thus, the charges settlement network routes the purchase transaction back to the issuing system for verification, authorization and settlement. The issuing system may also generate and provide a valid expiration date. The issuing system may further expire each purchase number after being used for a single purchase transaction to improve security.</p> |