Patent ID: 8799089

Claim:
A virtual payment system that bridges virtual payments for transactions occurring in a physical world, comprising communications means to enable a recipient of information to authorize payment via an alternative payment entity on behalf of a customer, said communications means is a telephone or computer, and further characterized in that business relationships are established between a merchant, and a virtual payment system network and said alternative payment entity, whereby said customer visits said merchant, selects at least one good(s)/service(s) and obtains said information, further characterized in that a method of said payment is requested from said customer, said method of said payment is communicated to said merchant, further characterized in that a telephone number or e-mail address is requested from said customer, said merchant sends said information to said virtual payment system network, said information is communicated to said virtual payment system network, said virtual payment system network sends said information to said recipient whereby said information is sent to said telephone number or e-mail address by said virtual payment system network, said information is authenticated for purchase and used to authorize said payment via said alternative payment entity, said alternative payment entity approves or denies said payment to said merchant for said at least one good(s)/service(s) of said customer, said alternative payment entity notifies said recipient and said virtual payment system network notifies said merchant of said payment approval or denial, and said alternative payment entity coordinates said payment to said merchant for said at least one good(s)/service(s) of said customer.