WO2001023975A2

WO2001023975A2 - Secure system and method for commerce by credit card

Info

Publication number: WO2001023975A2
Application number: PCT/IL2000/000592
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yaron Charaka; Menachem Kupfer; Ezra Sasson; Zaza Tsivion
Original assignee: Ibiz Software Inc.
Priority date: 1999-09-27
Filing date: 2000-09-26
Publication date: 2001-04-05
Also published as: WO2001023975A3; AU7550900A

Abstract

A method system and article of manufacture are disclosed for effectuating a transfer of money using the services of a credit provider. The method includes the steps of sending a criteria signal indicative of criteria predetermined by a transferor (2), such as a purchaser using a computer connected to the Internet, to the credit provider; providing an identifier from the transferor to a transferee, such as a vendor on the Internet; sending the identifier and other information from the transferee to the credit provider (3); comparing the identifier and at least some of the other information to at least some of the predetermined criteria (5); and sending an approval signal indicative of approval or disapproval (8) by the credit provider of the transfer of money to the transferee (9). The disclosed system includes devices that carry out the above steps. The disclosed articles of manufacture includes computer programs for effectuating the above transfer of money, comprising a set of instructions stored on a media accessible by a computer and executable on said computer.

Description

SECURE SYSTEM AND METHOD

FOR

COMMERCE BY CREDIT CARD

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of commerce by credit card

BACKGROUND

A recent fast growing sector of the world economy has been commercial transactions using modern communication technologies Commercial transactions over the Internet, in particular, over the last decade have grown in the United States alone from insignificant amounts to the billions. See in general United States Department of Commerce Report, The Emerging Digital Economy

Notwithstanding this history of success, there have been several barriers to continued growth in this sector of the economy. Most Internet purchases are currently made by entering credit card and delivery information on a computerized form and transmitting it electronically to the retailer. Even though most consumers are accustomed to giving credit card information over the telephone, many are reluctant to give it online for fear that it will be stolen or misused. This reluctance is often cited as the largest barrier to the growth of retail sales on the Internet.

In addition to the problems of providing credit card information over the Internet, there are many consumers that are reluctant to give a credit card number over the telephone or even face-to-face to an unknown vendor.

Several methods have been suggested to solve the described problem. One common method is encryption of the information that is transmitted over the Internet. This method represents, however, only a partial solution. First, encryption has often failed because unauthorized individuals (commonly known as hackers) have managed to break the encryption method. Second, this method requires that both the sender and receiver of information have compatible decoders and encoders. Third, encryption does not prevent a vendor who receives a credit card number from misusing it or giving it to a criminal.

Another security method involves sending the full credit card number using a telephone or telecopier, while only part of the credit card number is sent over the Internet. The problems of using this method are similar to those of the first method. First, the telephone and telecopier lines are not secure. Second, this method is commercially cumbersome since it requires the buyer to use different communication media for a single transaction. Furthermore, this method still necessitates giving the credit card number to an unknown vendor. Yet another method involves the credit card holder receiving a confirmation number from a trusted third party (usually an affiliate of the credit card company or the credit card company itself) for a specific transaction. After receiving the confirmation number, the credit card holder passes it to the seller, and this number, not the credit card number, is used by the seller for completing the deal with the credit card company. Implementing this method requires great changes from conventional credit card procedures. Another drawback of this method is the possibility of unauthorized eavesdropping to the communication between the credit card holder and the credit card company. When such communication is being done using an unsecured Internet protocol, this apprehension becomes more significant.

U.S. Patent No. 5,864,830 issued to Armetta et al., which is incorporated by reference, discloses yet another method. U.S. Patent No. 5,864,830 describes a data- processing method by which one or more prepaid spending cards is configured and linked to a cardholder's conventional credit card such that a predetermined available spending capacity of each prepaid card is determined by the cardholder of such conventional credit card, and is immediately deducted from the available balance of such conventional card and limits the total spending capacity of the conventional credit card. The invention disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,864,830 is limited in terms of the criteria that can be set by the user to simply spending capacity, which is recorded by the credit card company as a purchase using the conventional credit card. The invention is also limited in terms in being solely an adjunct to a conventional credit card.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

One aspect of the invention is a method for effectuating a transfer of money using the services of a credit provider, including the steps of sending a criteria signal indicative of criteria predetermined by a transferor to the credit provider; providing an identifier from the transferor to a transferee; sending the identifier and other information from the transferee to the credit provider; comparing the identifier and at least some of the other information to at least some of the predetermined criteria; and sending an approval signal indicative of approval or disapproval by the credit provider of the transfer of money to the transferee. The predetermined criteria may include a predetermined time limit during which the transfer of money is permitted to occur, a limitation of the transfer of money to a predetermined transferee, a limitation on any one transfer of money to a predetermined amount, a limitation on the aggregate of all transfers of money to a predetermined amount or the purpose for which a transfer of money is made. The criteria signal may be sent using the Internet or in another preferred embodiment using a telephone network. Similarly, the identifier may be provided using the Internet, using a telephone network or face-to-face, the identifier and other information to the credit provider in the third step may be sent using the Internet or a telephone network and the approval signal may be sent using the Internet or a telephone network.

Another aspect of the invention is a system for effectuating a transfer of money using the services of a credit provider, including a device for sending a criteria signal indicative of criteria predetermined by a transferor to the credit provider; a device for providing an identifier from the transferor to a transferee; a device for sending the identifier and other information from the transferee to the credit provider; a device for comparing the identifier and at least some of the other information to at least some of the predetermined criteria; and a device for sending an approval signal indicative of approval or disapproval by the credit provider of the transfer of money to the transferee. The predetermined criteria may include a predetermined time limit during which the transfer of money is permitted to occur, a limitation of the transfer of money to a predetermined transferee, a limitation on any one transfer of money to a predetermined amount, a limitation on the aggregate of all transfers of money to a predetermined amount or the purpose for which a transfer of money is made. The criteria signal may be sent using the Internet or in another preferred embodiment using a telephone network. Similarly, the identifier may be provided using the Internet, using a telephone network or face-to-face, the identifier and other information to the credit provider in the third element may be sent using the Internet or a telephone network and the approval signal may be sent using the Internet or a telephone network. Another aspect of the invention is a computer program for effectuating a transfer of money using the services of a credit provider, comprising a set of instructions stored on a media accessible by a computer and executable on the computer, wherein the computer program performs the steps of storing a criteria signal indicative of criteria predetermined by a transferor to the credit provider; comparing an identifier and at least some other information to at least some of the predetermined criteria; and sending an approval signal indicative of approval or disapproval by the credit provider of the transfer of money to the transferee. The predetermined criteria may include a predetermined time limit during which the transfer of money is permitted to occur, a limitation of the transfer of money to a predetermined transferee, a limitation on any one transfer of money to a predetermined amount, a limitation on the aggregate of all transfers of money to a predetermined amount or the purpose for which a transfer of money is made. The criteria signal may be sent using the Internet or in another preferred embodiment using a telephone network. Similarly, the approval signal may be sent using the Internet or a telephone network.

Another aspect of the invention is a computer program for effectuating a transfer of money using the services of a credit provider, comprising a set of instructions stored on a media accessible by a computer and executable on the computer, wherein the computer program performs the steps of sending a criteria signal indicative of criteria predetermined by a transferor to the credit provider; and sending an identifier from a transferor to a transferee. The predetermined criteria may include a predetermined time limit during which the transfer of money is permitted to occur, a limitation of the transfer of money to a predetermined transferee, a limitation on any one transfer of money to a predetermined amount, a limitation on the aggregate of all transfers of money to a predetermined amount or the purpose for which a transfer of money is made. The criteria signal may be sent using the Internet or in another preferred embodiment using a telephone network. Similarly, the identifier in the second step may be sent using the Internet or a telephone network or face-to-face. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a system in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the sequence of steps in consummating a purchase in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a screen shot of the initial screen presented by a software program in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a screen shot of a second screen presented by a software program in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a screen shot of a third screen presented by a software program in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the present invention, a consumer can shop even on the Internet with little fear of being cheated because of misuse of his credit card number by either a vendor or an unknown third party (such as a computer hacker or a person to whom the vendor has given the credit card number) because the consumer can set up predetermined criteria for the approval of transactions. Also in accordance with the present invention, a consumer has control for example over the over-all amount allocated to all transactions on the Internet within a time period and also specific transactions with specific vendors. In each case of allocation, the consumer would set a time period during which the authorization would be available. This time period may be as long as days or as short as minutes. (This time period could also be greater than days or shorter than minutes.) Further in accordance with the invention, vendors on the Internet do not have to alter any of their conventional commercial procedures; although credit providers such as credit card companies may have to make some changes to their conventional procedures, these changes are minimal and well within the expertise of credit card companies.

The method and apparatus of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6. For purposes of this patent application, the term "transfer of money" shall mean any transfer of money whether for the purchase of goods or services, a gratuitous transaction such as a gift or a charitable donation, a transfer of money between the accounts of the same person, or for any other purpose. For purposes of this patent application, the term "transferor" shall mean a person or entity that makes a transfer of money and the term "transferee" shall mean a person or entity that receives a transfer of money. For purposes of this patent application, the term "credit provider" for a specific transfer of money is not limited to single entity but may refer to a plurality of entities that functioning together serve as the credit provider for that transfer of money.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes a transferor who is, in this preferred embodiment, a net card holder using a personal computer 11 connected to the Internet, a transferee who is, in this preferred embodiment, a seller using telephony system 120. a second seller using telephony system 130, net card server 19 connected to the Internet, credit card company using a server computer 15 and running program 17, having a set of business rules. This preferred embodiment also includes database 23, which is associated with net card server 19, and database 25, which is associated with business rules program 17. This preferred embodiment allows individuals who are net card holders to make transfer of moneys using standard credit card procedures (from the seller's point of view) while maintaining control of the amount of such individual's credit capacity and the exposure time of this capacity that is at risk. For example, a net card holder is able to engage in consumer transactions either over the telephone, in person at a retail store, or electronically over the Internet with confidence that there will not be significant difficulties as a result of fraud or mistake.

System Architecture

The system architecture of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated with reference to FIG. 1.

In a preferred embodiment, net card server 19 would be configured as a HTTP server and would be able to receive data from a net card holder using personal computer 11. The design, manufacture and implementation of an HTTP server is well-known in the art. Various software is also currently available for operation as an HTTP server including programs that adhere to either MICROSOFT CORPORATION'S IS API specification or the Common Gateway Interface Specification. As to an alternative, net card server 19 could use MICROSOFT CORPORATION'S Active Server Page technology or other technologies well- known in the art.

Net card server 19 has access to database 23 in which is stored information relating to the account of a net card holder using personal computer 11. Information stored with respect to a specific net card holder includes the net card holder's password to log onto net card server 19, the identifier used by the net card holder using personal computer 11 in making transfer of moneys and any other criteria set by net card user 11.

A credit card company using server computer 15 would be a conventional credit card company such as VISA, MASTERCARD or AMERICAN EXPRESS. Each credit card company using server computer 15 would have internal procedures and accounts. Each credit card company would employ database 25 to verify their credit limits for the net card holder both overall and with respect to a particular transaction. The credit company also has the capacity to recognize a number provided by a net card holder as being not a normal credit card number but a net card number. For purposes of the description of this preferred embodiment, the net card server 19 is owned by a different company than the credit card company. Also for purposes of this preferred embodiment net card server 19 has a direct connection to server computer 15. Seller's telephony system 120 may be a conventional point of sale device that conveys information regarding a transaction to the appropriate credit card company for the credit card company's approval of that transaction.

Online Embodiment Referring now to FIG. 1, there is described the process by which the net card holder completes a transaction.

At step (1) a net card holder using personal computer 11 logs onto net card server 19. In such preferred embodiment the logon procedure would consist of supplying a user name and a password. In a preferred embodiment specifically written software would be used for the logon procedure. FIG. 4 shows the screen shot for the initial screen provided by a preferred embodiment of this software. Once a net card holder using personal computer 11 has logged onto net card server 19, the net card holder using personal computer 11 would be presented with screen shot shown in FIG. 5. In a preferred embodiment, the net card holder using personal computer 11 would have several options with respect to setting a spending criteria. For example, the net card holder using personal computer 11 could specify a transaction or a particular item to be purchased and allocate a predetermined amount of money for such transactions or particular items. (FIG. 6 shows a screen shot for this latter form of setting.) As in the first case, the specific authorization would only be for a specific predetermined time period. In yet another screen (which is not seen), the user would set the identity of the seller. For purposes of the remaining description of FIG. 3. it is assumed that the net card holder using personal computer 11 wishes to make a purchase from the seller that is using telephony system 120 and that the net card holder has submitted all appropriate information to net card server 19 At step (2), The net card holder uses net card holder's computer 11 to place an order with seller's computer 13 using the Internet as the communication channel between the two computers. The net card holder supplies to the seller the appropriate information required by the seller, including the net card number of the net card holder using personal computer 11.

The seller using telephony system 120 most likely is not aware that the number of the net card is anything other than a conventional credit card number However, the state of knowledge of is irrelevant since the number can be processed by seller's telephony system 120 in accordance with conventional methods. Consequently, the seller using telephony system 120 does not have to alter any of its normal procedures in handling a transaction that has been initiated by the net card holder using personal computer 11. At step (3) seller using telephony system 120 sends the appropriate information to the applicable credit company in order to obtain approval for the transaction. As part of the information conveyed to the credit card company would be the number of the net card and, for example, the name of the net card holder using personal computer 11 This transfer of information to the credit card company will be in accordance with customary, conventional procedures.

At step (4) the credit card company using server computer 15 reviews the transaction by applying business rules program 17 and information obtained from database 25 At step (4), credit card company using server computer 15 also identifies the credit card number furnished by seller using telephony system 13 as a net card number. Except for recognition that the number is a net card number, step (4) entails conventional credit card procedures. At step (5) credit card company server computer 15 determines to accept or decline the transaction. If credit card company server computer 15 determines to decline the transaction, then a seller is notified that the transaction is declined at step (10). If credit card company server computer 15 using business rules program 17 determines to approve the transaction, then credit card company server computer 15 does not immediately send confirmation to a seller as would be done under conventional procedures. Instead, credit card company server computer 15 obtains approval from net card server 19. To obtain the necessary approval from net card server 19, credit card company server computer 15 first transmits the relevant information regarding the transaction to net card server 19 at step (6). This relevant information would include, for example, the net card number, the identifier of the seller and description of type and amount of transaction.

At step (7) net card server 19 would apply its internal check procedures and information obtained from database 23. By applying the internal check procedures to the database information, net card server 19 would determine if the transaction meets the criteria set by the net card holder using personal computer 11. If the criteria are not met (for example, the transaction amount exceeds the amount allocated to this particular transaction or the time limitation for this transaction has expired), net card server 19 notifies credit card company server computer 15 at step (110) that the transaction has failed the criteria set at step (1). Credit card company server computer 15 then notifies seller telephony system 120 that the transaction is declined in accordance with conventional procedures.

Alternatively, if net card server 19 notifies a credit card company using server computer 15 that the transaction meets the criteria, credit card company server computer 15 then proceeds to step (8). At step (8), credit card company server computer 15 notifies seller telephony system 120 that the transaction is approved. In addition, net card server 19 makes the appropriate adjustments to the information in database 23. For example, the money allocated for specific transactions would be subtracted and therefore it would not be available for other possibly fraudulent or mistaken transactions. As is the case with most of the steps, step (8) is performed in accordance with conventional procedures. At step (9), credit card company server computer 15 makes the appropriate adjustments to the account of a net card holder using personal computer 11. Finally also at step (9), credit card company server computer 15 sends a report to the net card holder using personal computer 11.

Other preferred embodiments of the present invention are also possible. For example, in the above described preferred embodiment, the net card was not linked to a credit card. In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the net card would be financially linked to a conventional credit card.

As a further example, FIG. 2 shows another preferred embodiment which is the same as the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 except that the net card holder deals with the seller using conventional telephone 150 as the communication channel between the net card holder and the seller. In another preferred embodiment the net card server could be part of the internal check procedures of a specific credit card company.

In another preferred embodiment the interaction between the tranferee and the transferor could be face-to-face .

In another preferred embodiment the transferor would limit transactions to specific transferees.

In all the preferred embodiments other criteria could be set. For example, the net card holder using personal computer 11 could set a sum of money that would be available to all transactions over a fixed period of time.

In another preferred embodiment the transferor would set a recurring allocation to pay for a newspaper subscription or other recurring transfer of money. In another preferred embodiment the transferor would set a limit for any one transaction: for example, a per transaction maximum.

In another preferred embodiment, the transferor would connect to the Internet using a single purpose Internet appliance instead of a personal computer An example of such an appliance is a device sold under the trade name of WEBTV

In the above specification, the invention has been described with reference to various preferred embodiments It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. As a consequence, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed.

1. A method for effectuating a transfer of money using the services of a credit provider, including the steps of:

• sending a criteria signal indicative of criteria predetermined by a transferor to said credit provider;

providing an identifier from said transferor to a transferee;

• sending said identifier and other information from said transferee to said credit provider;

• comparing said identifier and at least some of said other information to at least some of said predetermined criteria; and

• sending an approval signal indicative of approval or disapproval by said credit provider of said transfer of money to said transferee.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is a predetermined time limit during which said transfer of money is permitted to occur.

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3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is a limitation of said transfer of money to a predetermined transferee.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is a limitation on said transfer of money to a predetermined amount.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is a limitation on the aggregate of all transfers of money to a predetermined amount.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is the purpose for which said transfer of money is made.

7. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said criteria signal in the first step is sent using the Internet.

8. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said criteria signal in the first step is sent using a telephone network.

9. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said identifier in the second step is provided using the Internet.

10. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said identifier in the second step is provided using a telephone network.

11. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said identifier in the second step is provided to said transferee face-to-face.

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12. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said identifier and other information in the third step is sent to said credit provider using the Internet.

13. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said identifier and other information in the third step is sent to said credit provider using a telephone network.

14. The method of claim 1, 2, , 4, 5 or 6 wherein said approval signal in the fifth step is sent using the Internet.

15. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said approval signal in the fifth step is sent using a telephone network.

16. A system for effectuating a transfer of money using the services of a credit provider, including:

a device for sending a criteria signal indicative of criteria predetermined by a transferor to said credit provider;

a device for providing an identifier from said transferor to a transferee;

a device for sending said identifier and other information from said transferee to said credit provider;

16 • a device for comparing said identifier and at least some of said other information to at least some of said predetermined criteria; and

• a device for sending an approval signal indicative of approval or disapproval by said credit provider of said transfer of money to said transferee.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is a predetermined time limit during which said transfer of money is permitted to occur.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is a limitation of said transfer of money to a predetermined transferee.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is a limitation on said transfer of money to a predetermined amount.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is a limitation on the aggregate of all transfers of money to a predetermined amount.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is the purpose for which said transfer of money is made .

22. The system of claim 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21 wherein said criteria signal is sent using the Internet.

23. The system of claim 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21 wherein said criteria signal is sent using a telephone network.

24. The system of claim 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21 wherein said identifier is provided to said transferee using the Internet.

25. The system of claim 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21 wherein said identifier is provided to said transferee using a telephone network.

26. The sysytem of claim 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21 wherein said identifier in the second step is provided to said transferee face-to-face.

27. The system of claim 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21 wherein said identifier and other information is sent to said credit provider using the Internet.

28. The system of claim 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21 wherein said identifier and other information is sent to said credit provider using a telephone network.

29. The system of claim 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21 wherein said approval signal in the fifth step is sent using the Internet.

30. The system of claim 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21 wherein said approval signal in the fifth step is sent using a telephone network.

1. A computer program for effectuating a transfer of money using the services of a credit provider, comprising a set of instructions stored on a media accessible by a computer and executable on said computer, wherein said computer program performs the steps of:

• storing a criteria signal indicative of criteria predetermined by a transferor to said credit provider;

• receiving an identifier and other information from said credit provider;

32. The article of manufacture of claim 31 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is a predetermined time limit during which said transfer of money is permitted to occur.

33. The article of manufacture of claim 31 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is a limitation of said transfer of money to a predetermined transferee.

34. The article of manufacture of claim 31 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is a limitation on said transfer of money to a predetermined amount.

35. The article of manufacture of claim 31 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is a limitation on the aggregate of all transfers of money to a predetermined amount.

36. The article of manufacture of claim 31 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is the purpose for which said transfer of money is made .

37. The article of manufacture of claim 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 or 36 wherein said criteria signal in the first step is sent using the Internet.

38. The article of manufacture of claim 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 or 36 wherein said criteria signal in the first step is sent using a telephone network.

39. The article of manufacture of claim 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 or 36 wherein said identifier and other information in the second step is received from said credit provider using the Internet.

40. The article of manufacture of claim 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 or 36 wherein an identifier and other information in the second step is received from said credit provider using a telephone network.

41. The article of manufacture of claim 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 or 36 wherein said approval signal in the fourth step is sent using the Internet.

42. The article of manufacture of claim 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 or 36 wherein said approval signal in the fourth step is sent using a telephone network.

43. A computer program for effectuating a transfer of money using the services of a credit provider, comprising a set of instructions stored on a media accessible by a computer and executable on said computer, wherein said computer program performs the steps of:

• sending a criteria signal indicative of criteria predetermined by a transferor to said credit provider; and

providing an identifier from said transferor to a transferee.

44. The article of manufacture of claim 43 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is a predetermined time limit during which said transfer of money is permitted to occur.

45. The article of manufacture of claim 43 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is a limitation of said transfer of money to a predetermined transferee.

46. The article of manufacture of claim 43 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is a limitation on said transfer of money to a predetermined amount.

47. The article of manufacture of claim 43 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is a limitation on the aggregate of all transfers of money to a predetermined amount.

48. The article of manufacture of claim 43 wherein at least one of said predetermined criteria is the purpose for which said transfer of money is made .

49. The article of manufacture of claim 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 or 48 wherein said criteria signal in the first step is sent using the Internet.

50. The article of manufacture of claim 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 or 48 wherein said criteria signal in the first step is sent using a telephone network.

51. The method of claim 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 or 48 wherein said identifier in the second step is provided using the Internet.

52. The method of claim 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 or 48 wherein said identifier in the second step is provided using a telephone network.

53. The method of claim 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 or 48 wherein said identifier in the second step is provided to said transferee face-to-face.

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