Patent ID: 7085744

Claim:
A method for conducting a transaction between a first computer system and a second computer system, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving in the second computer system a request from a user of the first computer system to download data from the second computer system, the data to be encrypted with an encryption key prior to being downloaded; (b) determining by the second computer system whether the request represents a new transaction or an incomplete transaction by comparing a first value stored in the first computer system with a part of a second value stored in the second system, the first value being a portion of the encryption key, the second value being a whole portion of the encryption key; and (c) if wherein the request represents an incomplete transaction indicated by the portion of the encryption key stored in the first computer not matching any part of the whole portion of the encryption key stored in the second computer, and completing the incomplete transaction, wherein the user is not charged duplicate fees associated with starting a new transaction completing the incomplete transaction.