Patent ID: 7374082

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for integrated payment and electronic merchandise transfer via: (i) a payment infrastructure, configured in accordance with a payment system standard, in association with (ii) an electronic merchandise infrastructure, comprising the steps of: facilitating interrogation of an electronic payment device by a first terminal to obtain an account number associated with said electronic payment device, said electronic payment device being configured according to the payment system standard, said first terminal having a first terminal payment module configured according to the payment system standard and a first terminal electronic merchandise module configured according to the electronic merchandise infrastructure and coupled to said first terminal payment module to permit transfer of non-payment e-merchandise related information from said first terminal electronic merchandise module to said first terminal payment module, said interrogation of said electronic payment device being performed by said first terminal payment module; facilitating generation of said non-payment e-merchandise related information by said first terminal electronic merchandise module; and facilitating transfer of said non-payment e-merchandise related information from said first terminal electronic merchandise module to said electronic payment device via said first terminal payment module, within a transaction between said electronic payment device and said first terminal payment module that is conducted in accordance with said account number and said payment system standard, said non-payment e-merchandise related information being stored on said electronic payment device in accordance with said payment system standard.