Method of currency conversion

Abstract

A method is provided for transacting an anonymous purchase over the Internet. The method comprises the steps of: (a) acquiring intermediary credit account information from a purchasing intermediary; (b) providing transactional purchase information, including the intermediary credit account information, to a retailer, where the transactional purchase information is provided by the purchaser using a first computing device of a computer-implemented purchasing system; and (c) transacting a purchase between the purchaser and the retailer using the intermediary credit account information, thereby maintaining the anonymity of the purchaser.

1 .- 14 . cancel  
     
     
         15 . A method of currency conversion, comprising: 
 receiving currency in a first amount from a consumer;    converting the currency into an electronic purchase card for use by the consumer, where the electronic purchase card having a value equal to the first amount less a service fee assessed by a provider of the purchase card; and    providing the electronic purchase card to the consumer, where the electronic purchase card enables the consumer to transact a purchase by the consumer at a retailer different than the provider of the purchase card.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the electronic purchase card is a bearer instrument.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the electronic purchase card having an associated account number, but does not identify the consumer.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the electronic purchase card having indicia of a card issuer, indicia of an interchange association, and indicia for at least one other entity associated with distribution of the purchase cards.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the indicia for at least one other entity is further defined as the name of the purchase card provider.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  further comprises activating the purchase card by contacting the provider of the purchase card prior to transacting a purchase.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein contact information for the purchase card provider is provided on the purchase card.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the consumer contacts the purchase card provider over a network connection using a software-implemented application.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the purchase card enables the consumer to transact one or more purchases up to the value associated with the electronic purchase card.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15  further comprises transacting the conversion at a retail establishment, where the electronic purchase card is provided to the retail establishment by the provider of the purchase card.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the purchase card is provided to the retail establishment on a consignment basis.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of receiving currency and converting the currency is performed remotely from the consumer by the provider of the purchase card, such that the electronic purchase card is subsequently mailed to the consumer.  
     
     
         27 . A method of currency conversion, comprising: 
 receiving currency in a first amount from a consumer;    converting the currency into an electronic purchase card for use by the consumer, where the electronic purchase card having a value equal to the first amount less a service fee assessed by a provider of the purchase card; and    providing the electronic purchase card to the consumer, where the electronic purchase card is a bearer instrument and enables the consumer to transact a purchase by the consumer at a retailer different than the provider of the purchase card.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the electronic purchase card having an associated account number, but does not identify the consumer.  
     
     
         29 . A method of currency conversion, comprising: 
 receiving currency in a first amount from a consumer;    converting the currency into an electronic purchase card for use by the consumer, where the electronic purchase card having a value equal to the first amount less a service fee assessed by a provider of the purchase card, the electronic purchase card further having indicia of a card issuer, indicia of an interchange association, and indicia for at least one other entity associated with distribution of the purchase cards; and    providing the electronic purchase card to the consumer, where the electronic purchase card enables the consumer to transact a purchase by the consumer at a retailer different than the provider of the purchase card.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  further comprises activating the purchase card by contacting the provider of the purchase card prior to transacting a purchase, wherein contact information for the purchase card provider is provided on the purchase card.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the consumer contacts the purchase card provider over a network connection using a software-implemented application.  
     
     
         32 . A method of currency conversion, comprising: 
 receiving currency in a first amount from a consumer;    converting the currency into an electronic purchase card for use by the consumer, the electronic purchase card having an associated account number, but does not identify the consumer; and    providing the electronic purchase card to the consumer, where the electronic purchase card is operable to transact a purchase by the consumer at a retailer different than a provider of the purchase card.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the electronic purchase card is a bearer instrument.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the electronic purchase card is embossed with the name of the provider of the purchase card.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the electronic purchase card having indicia of a card issuer, indicia of an interchange association, and indicia for at least one other entity associated with distribution of the purchase cards.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the indicia for at least one other entity is further defined as the name of the purchase card provider.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32  further comprises activating the purchase card by contacting the provider of the purchase card prior to transacting a purchase.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein contact information for the purchase card provider is provided on the purchase card.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the consumer contacts the purchase card provider over a network connection using a software-implemented application.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the purchase card enables the consumer to transact one or more purchases up to a purchase limit associated with the electronic purchase card.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 32  further comprises transacting the conversion at a retail establishment, where the electronic purchase card is provided to the retail establishment by the provider of the purchase card.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the purchase card is provided to the retail establishment on a consignment basis.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the step of receiving currency and converting the currency is performed remotely from the consumer by the provider of the purchase card, such that the electronic purchase card is subsequently mailed to the consumer.  
     
     
         44 . A method of currency conversion, comprising: 
 receiving currency in a first amount from a consumer;    converting the currency into an electronic purchase card for use by the consumer, the electronic purchase card having an associated account number, but does not identify the consumer;    providing the electronic purchase card to the consumer, where the electronic purchase card is operable to transact a purchase by the consumer at a retailer different than a provider of the purchase card; and    activating the purchase card by contacting the provider of the purchase card prior to transacting a purchase, wherein contact information for the purchase card provider is provided on the purchase card.