Patent ID: 6477578
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
A method of communicating electronic transaction information, comprising:establishing a first communication link between a customer computer and a telephone network switching center; establishing a second communication link between the telephone network switching center and a merchant computer via an internet service provider and an internet; idling the second communication link; establishing a third communication link between a credit processing center computer and one of the telephone network switching center and the internet service provider via a circuit switching network while the second communication link is idling; determining whether the electronic transaction information is sensitive; controlling a switching function within the one of the telephone network switching center and the internet service provider to send the electronic transaction information from the customer computer via the first communication link to the merchant computer via the second communication link if the electronic transaction information is not sensitive; and controlling the switching function within the one of the telephone network switching center and the internet service provider to send the electronic transaction information from the customer computer via the first communication link to the credit processing center computer via the third communication link if the electronic transaction information is sensitive.