Patent ID: 7089208

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of facilitating a value exchange between multiple users in a distributed value exchange system, the method comprising: (a) registering a first user with the value exchange system, wherein the first user is assigned a first account with the value exchange system; (b) receiving at the value exchange system a value exchange transaction from the first user, wherein said transaction involves a second user and includes: (i) a pre-existing identifier of the second user, wherein the pre-existing identifier enables communication with the second user independent of the value exchange system; and (ii) a value to be exchanged between the first user and the second user; wherein the first user sends the value exchange transaction to the value exchange system without informing the second user of the value exchange transaction; and (c) at the value exchange system: (i) computer-generating a notification of said value exchange transaction; (ii) electronically sending said notification to the second user; and (iii) prior to said electronically sending, debiting said value from one of said first account and a second account associated with the second user, and crediting said value to the other of said first account and said second account.