COMPUTER NETWORK PORTAL SYSTEM AND PAYMENT METHOD FOR ELECTRONIC COMMERCE OPPORTUNITIES

Abstract: A computer network portal system receives a purchase order from a customer with customer data, replaces the customer purchase order with a network purchase order, and forwards the network purchase order to a relevant vendor through a computer network. The network purchase order hides the customer data, and replaces it with network data which is irrelevant to the customer data. The network portal system pays the vendor.

Description: COMPUTER NETWORK PORTAL SYSTEM AND PAYMENT METHOD FOR ELECTRONIC COMMERCE OPPORTUNITIES This invention relates to a system and method of providing electronic commerce opportunities, and more particularly, to a computer network portal system and a method used in the portal system for providing payment options for such electronic commerce opportunities to customers. Electronic commerce on the internet embraces enormous potential for new revenues for vendors. There are many goods and services already offered on the Internet. In order to purchase a good or service over the Internet, a customer typically accesses a website of a vendor, selects a desired good or service, and sends a purchase order together with its identification and finance information, such as a credit or debit card data. Upon receiving the purchase order, the vendor bills the customer using the finance information and forwards the purchased goods or services to the customer. The procedure of purchasing goods or services on the Internet is easy and quick for customers. However, the easiness of access to the Internet and its open architecture also involves insecurity of information exchanged thereon. Also, legitimacy of vendors posting electronic commerce opportunities on the Internet are often unknown to customers. These factors often make customers reluctant to provide their identification and financial information over the Internet to such vendors. Thus, the growth of electronic commerce on the Internet is not as rapid as vendors would like. In order to attend to the security problems, many encryption softwares are proposed. However, those encryption softwares usually require customers to have special softwares. The use of encryption softwares are often complicated. Thus, the use of encryption softwares is not suitable for many customers when shopping for goods and services of various vendors. US Patent No. 5,899,980 issued on May 4, 1999 to Wilf, et al. and US Patent No. 5,794,221 issued on August 11 , 1998 to Egendorf propose systems which avoid the need of transmitting financial information of customers over the Internet. However, these system providers require identity and financial information of customers to be provided in advance. Thus, customers who have not so provided the system providers with their identity and finance information cannot use these systems. There is therefore a need for a system which provides customers with a secure way of participating in electronic commerce on the Internet or other computer networks without a need of providing their identity or finance information in advance. The present invention uses a computer network portal system which receives a purchase order from a customer with customer data, replaces the customer purchase order with a network purchase order, and forwards the network purchase order to a relevant vendor through a computer network. The network purchase order hides the customer data, and replaces it with network data which is irrelevant to the customer data. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer network portal system connectable to a computer network which includes at least a vendor computer of a vendor who offers items. The computer network portal system comprises a portal server and a network order generator. The portal server is connectable to the computer network for receiving item information from the vendor, and provided for presenting the item information to a customer, and for receiving from the customer a customer purchase order for purchasing an item. The customer purchase order includes item data for specifying the item and customer data relating to the customer. The network order generator is provided for replacing the customer data in the customer purchase order with network data which is irrelevant to the customer data, and generating a network purchase order including the item data and the network data which is sent to the vendor computer through the computer network. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer network portal system connectable to a computer network which includes at least a vendor computer of a vendor who offers items. The computer network portal system comprises a portal server and a connection unit. The portal server is connectable to the computer network for receiving item information from the vendor, and provided for presenting the item information to a customer, and for receiving from the customer a customer purchase order for purchasing an item. The customer purchase order includes item data for specifying the item and customer data relating to the customer. The connection unit is provided for communicating a finance computer of a financial entity for forwarding the customer purchase order to the finance computer, for receiving a network purchase order from the finance computer, and for sending the network purchase order to the vendor computer through the computer network. The network purchase order is generated by the finance computer in response to the customer purchase order and includes the item data and network finance data which is irrelevant to the customer data. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for ordering an item to a vendor. The method comprises the steps of receiving a customer purchase order from a customer who wants to purchase an item offered by a vendor, the customer purchase order including item data specifying the item and customer data relating to the customer; replacing the customer data with network data which is irrelevant to the customer data; generating a network purchase order including the item data and the network data; and forwarding the network purchase order to the vendor through a computer network. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an Internet portal system connectable through the Internet to at least a vendor computer of a vendor who offers items. The Internet portal system comprises a web server and a network order generator. The web server is connectable to the Internet, and used for providing a portal website for presenting to a customer item information received from the vendor, and for receiving from the customer a customer purchase order for purchasing an item. The customer purchase order includes item data specifying the item and customer data relating to the customer. The network order generator is provided for replacing the customer data in the customer purchase order with network data which is irrelevant to the customer data, and generating a network purchase order including the item data and the network data which is sent to the vendor computer through the Internet. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for ordering an item to a vendor using a computer network. The method comprises the steps of providing a customer options to select whether the customer orders an item to a vendor with or without revealing customer identity data to the vendor; and providing a customer options to select whether the customer makes payment for the item with or without revealing customer finance data to the vendor. Other aspects and features of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention will be further understood from the following description with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a computer network in which a computer network portal system in accordance with the present invention is used; Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the computer network portal system; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing data flow in the computer network using the computer network portal system shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of a computer network portal system; Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing data flow in the computer network using the computer network portal system shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the portal system shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the portal system; Figure 8 is a flowchart showing payment options; and Figure 9 is a flowchart showing another payment options. Referring to Figures 1 to 3, an embodiment of a computer network portal system 10 in accordance with the present invention is described. The portal system 10 is connected to a computer network 12. The computer network 12 may be of any type. The present invention is suitably applied to an open computer network which is accessible by the public, such as the Internet. Vendors who wish to participate in electronic commerce on the computer network 12 connect one or more vendor computers 14 to the computer network 12. The vendors post item information on the computer network 12 using the vendor computers 14. The vendors may also provide item information through other conventional medium, such as direct mail, television, radio, newspapers, magazines and catalogues. The vendors may provide item information using conventional medium directly to customers or through the portal service provider. The portal service provider may be the owner of the portal system 10, a financial entity or other party who provides the portal services. The item information may include description of the item and conditions of purchases. The description of the item may include texts, photos, videos and audios. Items may be of any type which can be offered or delivered to or purchased by customers directly or indirectly using the computer network 12. For example, items may be tangible goods, such as, watches and air tickets, or intangible services such as house cleaning and transmission of music. When the vendors offer items through a non-computer medium, the vendors also provide contact information of the portal service provider. The vendors may also provide contact information of their own, so that customers may elect to purchase directly from the vendor or to purchase through the portal system 10. The contact information is typically a telephone number, but may be other contact methods, such as a fax number, mailing address and/or web site address. Customers may use services provided by the portal system 10 through a customer interface terminal 16 which is connected to the computer network 12 or a customer interface terminal 18 which is connected to the portal system 10, as further described later. Customers may also use the portal services through other communication means, such as telephone, fax and mail. As shown in Figure 2, in this embodiment, the portal system 10 comprises a portal server 30 and an order generator 32. These and other elements of the portal system 10 are further described with the operation thereof, referring to Figure 6. The portal server 30 is connected to the computer network 12. It receives item information offered by vendors from the vendor computers 14 (120). The portal server 30 may also receive item information from the portal service provider's computer (not shown) which receives item information provided by the vendors through conventional medium. The portal server 30 presents the item information to customers (122). Customers may access the presented information using a customer interface terminal 16 or 18 (124). Customers may also receive presented item information through conventional medium from the portal service provider or from the vendors directly (126). A customer may not want to reveal his/her data to the vendor or may not want to directly deal with the vendor which may be unknown to the customer to purchase an item. In that case, the customer elects to order the item through the portal system 10 (127). The customer may use a customer interface terminal 16 or 18, or through conventional communication means, e.g., telephone (128). When the customer elects to use a customer interface terminal 16 or 18, he/she issues a customer purchase order through the customer interface terminal 16 or 18 (130). The customer purchase order includes item data and customer data. The item data specifies the item to be purchased. The customer data may include customer identification and/or customer finance data. The customer finance data specifies the method of payment by the customer. It is typically a credit, debit or stored value card data of the customer. When the purchased item will need to be delivered to a receiver, the customer purchase order also includes data regarding the receiver of the purchased item. The receiver is not necessarily the same as the purchaser. Accordingly, the vendor would not know from the receiver data the identification of the customer, i.e., the purchaser. When the customer elects to order an item through the portal system 10 over telephone (128), the customer dials the given telephone number of the portal service provider, and places a customer purchase order with the portal service provider (131). The customer typically provides specific order information such as size, color and quantity and receiver information, as a part of the customer purchase order. Customers may also use other conventional communication means. The portal system 10 intercepts the transaction between the customer and the vendor offering the item. The portal server 30 receives the customer purchase order (132). In response to the customer purchase order, the order generator 32 generates a network purchase order (134). The network purchase order includes the item data and network data. The item data is the same as that included in the customer purchase order. The network data may include network finance data. The network finance data is irrelevant to the customer finance data included in the customer purchase order. Thus, the customer finance data is hidden from the network purchase order. The identification of the customer is also not included in the network purchase order. Accordingly, the customer data is not revealed to the vendor. The network finance data may be provided by the portal service provider, e.g., the owner or sponsor of the portal system 10. The portal server 30 forwards the network purchase order to the vendor computer 14 through the computer network 12 (136). In response to the network purchase order, the vendor provides the purchased item to the customer or another receiver (138). The purchased item is delivered to a specified receiver when the receiver data is included in the customer and network purchase orders. The receiver may be or may not be the customer. When the customer is the receiver of the purchased item and the purchased item is deliverable over the computer network, the purchased item may be transmitted to the customer over the computer network in the reverse direction of the network and customer purchase orders. For the purchased item, the vendor bills the portal service provider, e.g., the owner or sponsor of the portal server 30, using the network finance data included in the network purchase order. The portal service provider may pay the vendor through the computer network or using other methods. The portal service provider bills the customer using the customer finance data included in the customer purchase order. The owner or sponsor of the portal system 10 may verify the customer finance data with an appropriate financial entity, e.g., the bank of the customer's debit card or the credit card company of the customer's credit card. The verification is preferably carried out prior to generating the network purchase order. As shown in Figure 2, it is preferable that the portal system 10 also has a connection port 34 through which it can communicate with a computer 20 of such a financial entity. The communication link 21 between the port 34 and the financial entity computer 20 may be a dial-up line or a dedicated line. Thus, the portal system 10 may verify the customer finance data on line. It is preferable that the verification of the customer finance data is carried out automatically upon the receipt of the customer purchase order. At box 127 of Figure 6, when the customer elects to purchase directly from the vendor, the customer orders directly with the vendor together with payment (140). The customer may send a customer purchase order to the vendor computer 14 through a user interface terminal 16, or may contact the vendor using the given contact information of the vendor. As described above, according to the present invention, there is no direct communication necessary between customers and vendors when customers purchase items through the portal system 10. Thus, customers do not need to disclose their finance data or identification to vendors. They can always deal with a trusted party, i.e., the portal service provider such as the owner or sponsor of the portal system 10. Also, in order to access item information and place a customer purchase order using a customer interface terminal 16 or 18, customers do not need to have any special software to use the portal system 10 as long as they have access to a customer interface terminal which is capable of handling communication with the computer network 12. Furthermore, as the portal system 10 allows customers to use conventional communication means to obtain item information and place a purchase order, customers who do not have access to the computer network 12 or customer interface terminals 18 can also benefit from the portal system 10. As described above, customers may transmit to the portal server 30 their purchase orders using a customer interface terminal 16 that is connected to the computer network 12 directly or through a third party network connection service provider. However, it is preferable that customers use a customer interface terminal 18 which is connected to the portal system 10 by a system communication link 19. The system communication link 19 may be any closed communication link which is not accessible by the public. It is preferably a dedicated link that is dedicated to the communication between the portal system 10 and customer interface terminal 18. By using such a system communication link 19, customers do not need to disclose their finance data over the open computer network 12 at all. As a customer interface terminal 18, a public access computer terminal is suitably used. The public access computer terminal is preferably provided at a location accessible by the public, e.g., near an entrance of a retailer. It interfaces communication with customers. The public access computer terminal is preferably connected to the portal server 10 by a direct dedicated link 19. It may be connected to the portal server 10 through other devices, such as a retailer server. The public access computer terminal 18 preferably has a customer input device, display device, a card reader and a printer. Customers may view item information on the display device, and enter selection of an item by the input device. The card reader may read customers' credit, debit or stored value cards. The printer may print out receipts. The public access computer terminal 18 may also have a microphone or telephone handset and a voice recognition function, so that customers can enter necessary data for purchase by dictation. Customers may also use the public access computer terminal from any other computer terminal which is connected to the public access computer terminal by a communication link, e.g., a dial-up link. It is preferable that multiple public access computer terminals are provided for the portal system 10. Figure 3 illustrates an example of purchase data flow among the portal system 10, a vendor computer 14, a customer interface terminal 18 and a financial entity computer 20 in the embodiment shown in Figure 1. When a customer selects an item and transmits the finance data from the customer interface terminal 18, a customer purchase order 22 is forwarded to the portal system 10. The portal system 10 may verify the customer finance data 24 with the financial entity computer 20 (26). The portal system 10 generates a network purchase order 28 including network finance data. Then, it forwards the network purchase order 28 to the vendor computer 14. Item information is typically posted on the Internet by vendors through their websites. It is desirable that the portal server 30 also provides its website to present the item information to customers. In this case, the portal server 30 retrieves from the vendors' websites web pages including the item information. The portal server 30 may first present a menu indicating the vendors or classifications of items offered, and then retrieve the web pages from the vendor's websites in response to a selection from the menu by a customer. The vendors' websites typically contain a button or form to order items directly from the vendors. In order to avoid disclosure of customers' finance data and identification to the vendors, it is preferable that the portal server 30 is provided with a reformatting function 36. By the reformatting function 36, the portal server 30 reformats the retrieved web pages to include an activating function, prior to presenting them to customers. The activating function is used for activating the order generator 32. The activating function may be actuated by a customer directly by pressing an indication, e.g., an "order" button. It may be actuated in response to the selection of an item by the customer on the website of the portal system 10. It is also preferable that the portal server 30 has a monitoring function 38 for monitoring selection of an item by a customer. By monitoring the selection, the portal server 30 can obtain the item data. This eliminates a need for the customer to manually input the entire or partial item data. Depending on the item purchased, the customer purchase order includes information regarding the receiver of the purchased item. The receiver may be the same as or different from the purchaser. When the customer purchase order includes receiver information, the network purchase order also includes the receiver information. Thus, the purchased item can be delivered to the intended receiver. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, another embodiment of a portal system 50 of the present invention is described. This embodiment is similar to that shown in Figure 2, other than the location of the network purchase order generator 32. The same reference numerals are used for similar elements. The portal system 50 comprises a portal server 30 and a connection port 34. It does not have an order generator which is present in the portal system 10 shown in Figure 2. In this embodiment, generation of network purchase orders is carried out by a financial entity computer 20 or other computer (not shown) directly or indirectly connected to the connection port 34. Such other computer preferably uses a dedicated communication link or a dial-up communication link to the connecting port 34 or to the financial entity computer 20. The financial entity computer 20 is connected to the connection port 34 using a direct or dial-up communication link 21 , as described above referring to Figure 1. As shown in Figure 5, when a customer purchase order is issued from the customer interface terminal 18 or 16, the portal system 50 forwards it to the financial entity computer 20 through the connection port 34. In response to the customer purchase order, the financial entity computer 20 or the other computer (not shown) generates a network purchase order which is similar to that described above. Figure 5 illustrates an example of purchase data flow among the portal system 50, a vendor computer 14, a customer interface terminal 18 and a financial entity computer 20 in the embodiment shown in Figure 4. In this example, the financial entity computer 20 generates a network purchase order. When a customer selects an item and transmits the finance data from the customer interface terminal 18, a customer purchase order 22 is forwarded to the portal system 50. The portal system 50 in turn forwards the customer purchase order 22 to the financial entity computer 20. The financial entity computer 20 verifies the customer finance data by itself or by communicating with other financial entity computer or computers. The financial entity computer 20 then generates a network purchase order 28 including network finance data. Then, the financial entity computer 20 forwards it to the portal system 50, which in turn forwards it to the vendor computer 14. The financial entity computer 20 may forward the network purchase order 28 to the vendor computer 14 directly. This system enables direct participation of the financial entity in electronic commerce. The financial entity may add one or more additional values to the transaction, such as providing the vendor warrantee of no charge back, except for bad merchandise. The financial entity may issue a special "electrical credit card" to each customer for use for electronic commerce payments through the portal system 10. In the above embodiments, customers make payments at the time of ordering one or more items. Referring to Figures 7 and 8, another embodiment of a computer network portal system 100 in accordance with the present invention is described. This system 100 provides customers with an additional option by which the customers can make payment at a time later than that order of items. The system 100 is similar to the system 10 shown in Figure 1 and further includes one or more payment terminals 102 connected to the portal system 100. One or more payment terminals 102 are provided at one or more physical payment locations. Physical payment locations are typically accessible by the public, such as participating retail locations. Each payment terminal 102 is connected to the portal system 100. Each payment terminal 102 may be a retail terminal, such as a cash register or Point-Of-Sale (POS) system terminal. Each payment terminal 102 may be connected to the portal system 100 directly or indirectly through a retail system or other physical payment location's system (not shown). The operation of the portal system 100 is similar to that shown in Figure 6. As shown in Figure 8, when a customer places a customer purchase order at 130 or 131 , the portal system 100 provides the customer with two options: "pay now" or "pay later" (150). When the customer selects the "pay now" option (152), the portal system 100 works as described above (132). In order to select the "pay now" option, the customer needs to have a credit, debit or stored value card or other payment means usable over the communication means, e.g., the computer network or telephone. When a customer selects the "pay later" option (152), the portal system 100 receives the customer purchase order and provides the customer with confirmation of the purchase order (156). The order confirmation includes an order identification, such as an order number or order name. The portal system 100 maintains the purchase order on a status of "on-hold - pending payment" (158). The customer then goes to a physical payment location, and makes payment for the purchased item at the physical payment location (160). The customer identifies the purchase order using the order identification included in the order confirmation. Thus, the customer can use cash or check as well as a credit, debit or stored value card at the payment terminal 102. The customer may make the full payment at a time at a physical payment location, or divide the payment into some portions and pay each portion at a different time at the same physical payment location or a different physical payment location. The information of the payment is sent to the portal system 100 through the payment terminal 102 with the order identification (162). When the full payment is made, the portal system 100 generates a network purchase order using the order identification and its corresponding customer purchase order which is maintained in the portal system 100 (134). The portal system 100 may send to the vendor the network purchase order prior to receiving the payment information and the vendor may maintain the received purchase order on a status of "on-hold - pending payment" until the portal system 100 confirms the receipt of the full payment. As described above, the customer may go to any participating physical payment location. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 8, the customer may designate a participating physical payment location to make the payment (154). In this case, the customer makes the payment at the designated physical payment location (160). It is preferable that the portal system 100 prompts the customer to estimate by when the customer will make the payment. The portal service provider or vendor, through the portal system 100, may provide a default time of payment deadline. Purchase orders on a status of "on-hold - pending payment" may be cancelled if full payment is not made within the time period estimated and provided by the customer or defaulted by the portal service provider or vendor through the portal system 100. The portal system 100 may forward a network purchase order to the vendor prior to receiving the payment information from the payment terminal 102. In this case, the vendor maintains the order on a status of "on-hold - pending payment" until the payment confirmation is provided by the portal system 100 or a predetermined time period expires. The customer who elects to order items directly from the vendor at 127 in Figure 6 may also use the portal system 100 for making payment. As shown in Figure 9, when a customer places a customer purchase order at 140 in Figure 6, the vendor provides the customer with two options: "pay now" or "pay later" (170). When the customer selects the "pay now" option (172), the customer makes payment using a credit, debit or stored value card or other payment means that is acceptable by the vendor. When a customer selects the "pay later" option (172), the customer may designate one of the participating physical payment locations to make the payment at (174). The vendor provides the customer with confirmation of the purchase order (176). The order confirmation includes an order identification, such as an order number. The vendor maintains the purchase order on a status of "on-hold - pending payment" (178). The customer then goes to a physical payment location, and makes payment for the purchased item at the physical payment location (160). The customer identifies the purchase order using the order identification included in the order confirmation. Thus, the customer can use cash or check as well as a credit, debit or stored value card at a payment terminal 102. The information of the payment is sent to the portal system 100 through the payment terminal 102 (180) together with the order identification. Then, the portal system 100 sends payment confirmation to the vendor with the order identification (182). The vendor provides purchased item to the receiver (138). The participating physical payment locations may use a common sign to indicate that customers may make payments for items that they purchased through the portal system 100. While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, changes and modifications may be made to such embodiments without departing from the true scope of the invention. For example, in the above embodiments, only a single financial entity computer is connected, but more than one financial entity computer may be connected.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A computer network portal system connectable to a computer network, the computer network including at least a vendor computer of a vendor who offers items, the computer network portal system comprising: a portal server connectable to the computer network for receiving item information from the vendor, for presenting the item information to a customer, and for receiving from the customer a customer purchase order for purchasing an item, the customer purchase order including item data for specifying the item and customer data relating to the customer; and a network order generator for replacing the customer data in the customer purchase order with network data which is irrelevant to the customer data, and generating a network purchase order including the item data and the network data which is sent to the vendor computer through the computer network. 2. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the computer network is a computer network accessible by the public. 3. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the customer data in the customer purchase order includes customer finance data for payment of the item, the computer network also includes a finance computer of a financial entity, and the portal system further comprises a connection unit for communicating with the finance computer for verifying the customer finance data. 4. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the connection unit and the finance computer are connected by a direct communication link. 5. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the connection unit and the finance computer are connected by a dial-up line. 6. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the portal server receives the item information through the computer network, and the portal system has a reformatter for reformatting the item information received from the vendor computer to include an activating function for activating the network order 5 generator by a customer input. 7. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the customer receives the item information from the portal server using a customer interface computer. 8. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the 10 customer receives the item information from the vendor through a conventional media. 9. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the portal server receives the customer purchase order through the computer network. 10. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the portal 15 server has a monitor for monitoring selection of an item by the customer to retrieve the item data based on the item information. 11. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the portal server receives the customer purchase order through a direct computer communication link. 20 12. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the portal server has a monitor for monitoring selection of an item by the customer to retrieve the item data based on the item information. 13. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising a public access computer terminal for interfacing communication with customers, the public access computer terminal being connectable to the portal server and provided at a location accessible by the public. 14. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the portal server receives the customer purchase order through a conventional media. 15. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the customer data of the customer purchase order includes customer identity and the network order generator excludes the customer identity from the network purchase order. 16. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the customer purchase order includes receiver data regarding a receiver of the item, and the network purchase order includes the receiver data. 17. A computer network portal system connectable to a computer network, the computer network including at least a vendor computer of a vendor who offers items, the computer network portal system comprising: a portal server connectable to the computer network for receiving item information from the vendor, for presenting the item information to a customer, and for receiving from the customer a customer purchase order for purchasing an item, the customer purchase order including item data for specifying the item and customer data relating to the customer; and a connection unit for communicating a finance computer of a financial entity for forwarding the customer purchase order to the finance computer, for receiving a network purchase order from the finance computer, and for sending the network purchase order to the vendor computer through the computer network, the network purchase order being generated by the finance computer in response to the customer purchase order and including the item data and network finance data which is irrelevant to the customer data. 18. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the computer network is a computer network accessible by the public. 19. A method for ordering an item to a vendor, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a customer purchase order from a customer who wants to purchase an item offered by a vendor, the customer purchase order including item data specifying the item and customer data relating to the customer; replacing the customer data with network data which is irrelevant to the customer data; generating a network purchase order including the item data and the network data; and forwarding the network purchase order to the vendor through a computer network. 20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the customer data includes customer finance data, and the method further comprising the step of communicating with a finance entity for verifying the customer finance data. 21. The method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising the step of presenting to the customer item information provided by the vendor. 22. The method as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the presenting step presents the item information to the customer through the computer network. 23. The method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the presenting step includes the step of reformatting the item information received from the vendor to include an activating function for activating the replacing step and the generating step. 24. The method as claimed in claim 22 further comprising the step of monitoring selection of the item by the customer to retrieve the item data based on the item information. 25. The method as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the presenting step presents the item information to the customer through a conventional media. 26. The method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the receiving step includes the step of receiving the customer purchase order through the computer network. 27. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the receiving step includes the step of receiving the customer purchase order from a public access computer terminal provided at a location accessible by the public. 28. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the receiving step uses a direct communication link to receive the customer purchase order from the public access computer terminal. 29. The method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the receiving step includes the step of receiving the customer purchase order through a conventional media. 30. The method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising the step of forwarding the customer purchase order to a finance computer of a finance entity, and wherein the replacing step is carried out by the finance computer. 31. The method as claimed in claim 30 wherein the generating step is carried out by the finance computer. 32. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the customer data of the customer purchase order includes customer identity, and the method further comprising the step of excluding customer identify from the network purchase order. 33. The method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising the step of including in the network purchase order receiver data included in the customer purchase order regarding a receiver of the item. 34. The method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising the step of providing the customer with options to make payment for the item now or later. 35. The method as claimed in claim 34 further comprising the steps of accepting the payment at a physical payment location, and receiving payment confirmation from the physical payment location. 36. The method as claimed in claim 35, wherein the generating step is carried out after receipt of the full payment confirmation. 37. The method as claimed in claim 35 further comprising the step of forwarding the payment confirmation to the vendor. 38. The method as claimed in claim 34 further comprising the step of maintaining the customer purchase order on hold until the customer makes full payment for the item or expiration of a predetermined time period in which the customer is to make full payment. 39. The method as claimed in claim 38 wherein the customer purchase order includes a time period in which the customer is to make full payment, and the method further comprises the step of setting the predetermined time period based on the customer purchase order. 5 40. The method as claimed in claim 34 further comprising the step of providing order confirmation to the customer when the customer elects to make the payment later. 41. An Internet portal system connectable through the Internet to at least a vendor computer of a vendor who offers items, the Internet portal system 10 comprising: a web server connectable to the Internet for providing a portal website for presenting to a customer item information received from the vendor, and for receiving from the customer a customer purchase order for purchasing an item, the customer purchase order including item data specifying the item and customer data 15 relating to the customer; and a network order generator for replacing the customer data in the customer purchase order with network data which is irrelevant to the customer data, and generating a network purchase order including the item data and the network data which is sent to the vendor computer through the Internet. 20 42. The Internet portal system as claimed in claim 41 wherein the web server retrieves information from a web page from a website presented by the vendor computer on the Internet. 43. The Internet portal system as claimed in claim 42 wherein the web server has a reformatter for reformatting the web page to include an activating function for 25 activating the network order generator. 44. The Internet portal system as claimed in claim 41 wherein the web server has a monitoring function for monitoring selection of the item in the web page to receive the item data. 45. A method for ordering an item to a vendor using a computer network, the 5 method comprising the steps of: providing a customer options to select whether the customer orders an item to a vendor with or without revealing customer identity data to the vendor; and providing a customer options to select whether the customer makes payment for the item with or without revealing customer finance data to the vendor. 10 46. The method as claimed in claim 45, wherein when the customer elects to order the item without revealing customer identity data, the method further comprises the steps of: receiving a customer purchase order from the customer, the customer purchase order including item data specifying the item and customer identity data; 15 replacing the customer identity data with network data which conceals the customer identity data; generating a network purchase order including the item data and the network data; and forwarding the network purchase order to the vendor through the computer 0 network. 47. The method as claimed in claim 45, wherein when the customer elects to order the item without revealing customer finance data, the method further comprises the steps of: receiving a customer purchase order from the customer, the customer 5 purchase order including item data specifying the item and customer finance data; replacing the customer finance data with network finance data which is irrelevant from the customer finance data; generating a network purchase order including the item data and the network data; and forwarding the network purchase order to the vendor through a computer network. 48. The method as claimed in claim 45, wherein when the customer elects to order the item without revealing customer finance data, the method further comprises the steps of: receiving a customer purchase order from the customer, the customer purchase order including item data specifying the item; allowing the customer to make payment for the item at a physical payment location; receiving payment confirmation from the physical payment location; generating a network purchase order including the item data; and forwarding the network purchase order to the vendor through a computer network. 49. A computer network portal system for providing customers with access to a computer network, the computer network including at least a vendor computer of a vendor who offers items through the computer network, the computer network portal system comprising: a portal server connectable to the computer network for receiving item information from the vendor computer and presenting the item information to a customer, and for receiving from the customer a customer purchase order for purchasing an item, the customer purchase order including item data for specifying the item to be purchased and customer finance data of the customer for payment; and a network order generator for replacing the customer finance data in the customer purchase order with network finance data which is irrelevant to the customer finance data, and generating a network purchase order including the item data and the network finance data to be sent to the vendor computer through the 5 computer network. 50. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 49, wherein the computer network is a computer network accessible by the public. 51. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 49 further comprising a connection unit for communicating with a finance computer of a 10 financial entity for verifying the customer finance data. 52. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 51 wherein the connection unit and the finance computer are connected by a direct communication link. 53. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 51 wherein the 15 connection unit and the finance computer are connected by a dial-up line. 54. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 49, wherein the portal server has a reformatter for reformatting the item information received from the vendor computer to include an activating function for activating the network order generator by a customer input. 20 55. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 49, wherein the portal server has a monitor for monitoring selection of an item by a customer to retrieve the item data based on the item information. 56. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 49, wherein the portal server receives the customer purchase order through the computer network. 57. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 49, wherein the portal server receives the customer purchase order through a direct communication 5 link. 58. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 57, further comprising a public access computer terminal for interfacing communication with customers, the public access computer terminal being connectable to the portal server and provided at a location accessible by the public. 10 59. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 49, wherein the customer purchase order includes customer identity and the network order generator excludes the customer identity from the network purchase order. 60. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 49, wherein the customer purchase order includes receiver data regarding a receiver of the item, and 15 the network purchase order includes the receiver data. 61. A computer network portal system for providing customers with access to a computer network, the computer network including at least a vendor computer of a vendor who offers items through the computer network, the computer network portal system comprising: 0 a portal server connectable to the computer network for receiving item information from the vendor computer and presenting the item information to a customer, and for receiving from the customer a customer purchase order for purchasing an item, the customer purchase order including item data for specifying the item to be purchased and customer finance data of the customer for payment; 5 and a connection unit for communicating a finance computer of a financial entity for forwarding the customer purchase order to the finance computer and receiving a network purchase order from the finance computer to be sent to the vendor computer through the computer network, the network purchase order being 5 generated by the finance computer in response to the customer purchase order and including the item data and network finance data which is irrelevant to the customer finance data. 62. The computer network portal system as claimed in claim 61 , wherein the computer network is a computer network accessible by the public. 10 63. A payment method for electronic commerce opportunities offered by at least a vendor through a computer network, the vendor having a vendor computer connected to the computer network for providing item information, the method comprising the steps of: presenting to a customer the item information provided by the vendor 15 computer through the computer network; receiving a customer purchase order from the customer for purchasing an item, the customer purchase order including item data specifying the item to be purchased and customer finance data of the customer for payment; replacing the customer finance data with network finance data which is 20 irrelevant to the customer finance data; generating a network purchase order including the item data and the network finance data; and forwarding the network purchase order to the vendor computer through the computer network. 25 64. The method as claimed in claim 63 further comprising the step of communicating with a finance computer of a financial entity for verifying the customer finance data. 65. The method as claimed in claim 63 wherein the presenting step includes the step of reformatting the item information received from the vendor computer to include an activating function for activating the replacing step and the generating step. 5 66. The method as claimed in claim 63 further comprising the step of monitoring selection of the item by the customer to retrieve the item data based on the item information. 67. The method as claimed in claim 63 wherein the receiving step includes the step of receiving the customer purchase order through the computer network. 10 68. The method as claimed in claim 63, wherein the receiving step includes the step of receiving the customer purchase order from a public access computer terminal provided at a location accessible by the public. 69. The method as claimed in claim 68, wherein the receiving step uses a direct communication link to receive the customer purchase order from the public access 15 computer terminal. 70. The method as claimed in claim 63 further comprising the step of forwarding the customer purchase order to a finance computer of a finance entity, and wherein the replacing step is carried out by the finance computer. 71. The method as claimed in claim 70 wherein the generating step is carried out 0 by the finance computer. 72. The method as claimed in claim 63 further comprising the step of excluding customer identify from the network purchase order. 73. The method as claimed in claim 63 further comprising the step of including in the network purchase order receiver data included in the customer purchase order regarding a receiver of the item. 74. An Internet portal system for providing customers with access to the Internet, 5 the computer network including at least a vendor computer of a vendor who offers items through the Internet, the Internet portal system comprising: a web server connectable to the Internet for providing a portal website for presenting to a customer item information received from the vendor computer, and for receiving from the customer a customer purchase order for purchasing an item, 10 the customer purchase order including item data specifying the item to be purchased and customer finance data of the customer for payment; and a network order generator for replacing the customer finance data in the customer purchase order with network finance data which is irrelevant to the customer finance data, and generating a network purchase order including the item 15 data and the network finance data to be sent to the vendor computer through the Internet. 75. The Internet portal system as claimed in claim 74 wherein the web server retrieves information from a web page from a website presented by the vendor computer on the Internet. 20 76. The Internet portal system as claimed in claim 75 wherein the web server has a reformatter for reformatting the web page to include an activating function for activating the network order generator. 77. The Internet portal system as claimed in claim 74 wherein the web server has a monitoring function for monitoring selection of the item in the web page to receive 25 the item data.

Inventors: JONES MICHAEL RAWLES, JONES, MICHAEL, RAWLES
Applicants: JONES MICHAEL RAWLES, JONES, MICHAEL, RAWLES
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G06F17
IPC codes: G06Q20, G06Q30