Patent ID: 7742996

Claim:
A computer network method for issuing and verifying a password protected representation of economic value exchangeable for money using at least a programmed computer to avoid acceptance of a fraudulent economic representation at the point and time of transaction between a merchant and a payee or bearer, comprising the steps of: receiving for verification a self-printed representation of economic value having machine readable codes comprising at least data identifying an unique identification linked to a password by payee or bearer; reading said machine readable codes to derive said linked password; requesting from payee or bearer a password to verify ownership of said representation; verifying ownership by comparing said password presented by said payee or bearer with said password linked to said unique identifier; responding to said merchant with said verification result; determining by said merchant whether to accept or refuse said representation at the point and time of transaction based on said ownership verification step; whereby said merchant accepts then exchanging predetermined amount of money in currency notes with said representation or crediting said predetermined amount of money to an account designated by said payee or bearer; and whereupon acceptance, said representation is expired.