Patent ID: 7103572

Claim:
An electronic asset utilization system comprising: a first terminal connected to a communications network, said first terminal including: means for sending an order for purchasing an electronic asset including electronic data for obtaining a service or product being offered for sale by a vendor, means for electronically requesting the issuance of said electronic asset on a predetermined date and time, means for electronically transmitting financial information to support said purchase of said electronic asset, and means for receiving settlement information about said purchase; and a server connected to the communications network, said server including: a user processing section for receiving said order from said first terminal; a settlement processing section for receiving said financial information from said first terminal, and for settling a charge for said purchase in response to receiving said financial information, and also for electronically transmitting said settlement information about the purchase to said first terminal after settling said charge, an exchange certificate issuance section for electronically transmitting an exchange certificate including electronic data to said first terminal or to a second terminal in response to said order, wherein said exchange certificate is used for verifying a user's right to receive said electronic asset, an electronic asset issuance section for electronically transmitting said electronic asset corresponding to, and in exchange for, the exchange certificate, at said predetermined date and time, said transmitting to one of said first terminal, said second terminal, or a third terminal, and an electronic asset status management section for ensuring that said electronic asset is transmitted to said one of said first terminal, said second terminal, or said third terminal only if said exchange certificate has been transmitted to said server from said one of said first terminal, said second terminal, or said third terminal; wherein said exchange certificate includes information about obtaining said electronic asset, and further wherein said electronic asset is for obtaining the service or product from the vendor.