Patent ID: RE43845

Claim:
A method for providing a consumer billing data protection capability , the method comprising the steps of : storing in a computer system a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and encrypted partial billing information comprising ; wherein the encrypted partial billing information comprises an encrypted version of a predetermined set of p alphanumeric characters of the a billing information of said consumer; wherein the billing information is data required by a financial institution separate from the computer system to access funds from a consumer's account at the financial institution; and wherein a remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information are not stored in the computer system; and processing at said computer system an order received from a consumer, comprising: receiving an input indicative that a consumer, corresponding to said consumer identification information stored in one of said plurality of consumer records, desires to purchase a product or service, said input including a key received from said consumer, the key comprising the remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information of said consumer, and wherein m+p is epual equal to the total number of alphanumeric characters in the billing information of said consumer; decrypting, using said key received from said consumer, said encrypted partial billing information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records; and processing an order for said product or service and billing for said order using the decrypted partial billing information stored in said one of the plurality of consumer records, and said key.