Patent ID: 7949600

Claim:
In an online commerce system including a buyer computer operated by a buyer, a seller computer operated by a seller, a network for connecting the buyer computer and the seller computer for an electronic commercial transaction, a method for effecting a payment from a buyer to a seller in connection with an electronic transaction utilizing a money transfer system, comprising: providing a money transfer system connected for electronic communications with at least the seller computer, wherein the money transfer system is operative for electronic communications with one or more buyer accessible payment location local computers operated at one or more payment locations and physically accessible to the buyer to make a payment; receiving at the money transfer system an electronic payment request from the seller computer in response to a proposed transaction between the buyer and the seller, the payment request comprising information including at least a transaction amount; assigning, by the money transfer system, a unique transaction number to the payment request without receiving card account information or financial account information associated with the buyer, wherein the unique transaction number is associated with the transaction between the buyer and the seller; determining by the money transfer system a preliminary total amount required from the buyer in connection with the transaction comprising at least the transaction amount; determining by the money transfer system a grand total amount based upon the preliminary total amount and any other applicable charges; communicating information from the money transfer system to the seller computer system for displaying at least the grand total amount and the unique transaction number to the buyer computer system; receiving at the money transfer system a payment notification associated with the unique transaction number from the payment location local computer, wherein the payment notification indicates payment in the amount of the grand total amount has been submitted in person at the payment location by or on behalf of the buyer, wherein the amount of the grand total amount is submitted after the unique transaction number is assigned; communicating a message to the seller computer system that payment associated with the unique transaction number has been received at a payment location upon receipt of the payment notification by the money transfer system; and effecting completion of the electronic payment request by making payment via the money transfer system to the seller upon receipt of the payment notification by the money transfer system.