Processing payment on the Internet

Abstract

A method of operating a computer on a network of computers for the purpose of collecting payments due a remote computer on the network (such as the Internet). The method for payment processing includes the steps of: receiving the customer's account data and amount data; establishing an authorization indicia; and, communicating said authorization indicia to a remote computer (such as the merchant's computer) on the network.

1 . A system of computers comprising: 
 a) a computer network;    b) a phone network;    c) a first computer containing promotional data, said first computer programmed to communicate said promotional data via said computer network to a remote computer;    d) a second computer being linked via said computer network with said first computer programmed to 
 1) receive said promotional data, and,  
 2) responsive to input from an operator, for initiate an order;  
   e) a third computer; and,    f) a fourth computer, remote from said first computer and programmed to: 
 1) receive customer account data and amount data from said second computer and said first computer via said computer network,  
 2) communicate said customer amount data and said amount data to said third computer via said phone network,  
 3) receive an authorization indicia from said third computer via the phone network, and,  
 4) via said computer network, communicate, a representation of said authorization indicia to said second computer, and, 
 B) a representation of said authorization indicia to said first computer.