Patent ID: 7318048
Filing Date: 2008-01-08
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of authorizing purchase transactions over a computer network using an account number that identifies a consumer's account from which funds will be withdrawn to pay a purchase price and an authorization token associated with said account number which, when used with said account number, enables withdrawal of funds from said account, said method comprising: transmitting said account number electronically over said network from a consumer location to an on-line merchant location; forwarding said account number electronically over said network from said on-line merchant location to a third party contractor location; initiating a verification connection between said consumer location and said third party contractor location, said verification connection including a verification web browser window provided from said on-line merchant location to said consumer location to initiate said verification connection between said consumer location and said third party contractor location, said verification connection being independent of, and bypassing said on-line merchant location; determining at said third party contractor location an authentication token type associated with said account number; prompting a consumer at said consumer location to electronically transmit an authentication token in accordance with said determined authentication token type over said connection to said third party contractor location; transmitting said authentication token electronically over said connection; and determining at said third party contractor location whether said account number and said authentication token are valid and, if so, then authorizing the purchase transaction to proceed.