Electronic currency, electronic wallet therefor and electronic payment systems employing them

Abstract

Electronic currency consists of data in a form suitable to be stored in a user's data storage medium, comprising information on the data value, identification of each specific set of data or data point, and authentication information suitable to verify that said data has been generated by a specific Currency Issuing Authority (CIA). A method and a system for effecting currency transactions between two users over the Internet or other communication network are also described.

1 - 82 . (canceled) 
     
     
         83 . A method for preventing the electronic theft of electronic currency, said electronic currency consisting of data in a form suitable to be stored in a user's data storage medium that can be carried by a user and can be associated with at least one device connectable to a LAN or WAN, said data comprising information on the data value and authentication information suitable to verify that said data has been generated by a specific Currency Issuing Authority (CIA), comprising:
 (a) generating one or more sequence(s) of symbols, each of said one or more sequence(s) of symbols being associated with a specific set of data;   (b) whenever a part of said specific set of data is to be used as electronic currency, providing to a Currency Issuing Authority trusted Server (CIAS) at least one of said one or more sequence of symbols; and   (c) authenticating said part of said specific set of data only if said one or more sequence of symbols matches the identification of said specific set of data.   
     
     
         84 . The method according to  claim 83 , wherein each sequence of symbols used to match the identification of a specific set of data is spent and cannot be used again. 
     
     
         85 . The method according to  claim 83 , wherein the one or more sequences of symbols is uniquely related to a specific set of data packets. 
     
     
         86 . The method according to  claim 85 , wherein the one or more sequences of symbols is printed on a printed matter. 
     
     
         87 . The method according to  claim 86 , wherein the printed matter is supplied together with a data carrier, or attached to it, or directly printed thereon. 
     
     
         88 . A method for carrying out transactions involving electronic purses or wallets, when the buyer and the seller are present in the flesh, comprising connecting the electronic purse or wallet of the buyer to a device in communication with a CIAS over a LAN or WAN, wherein the CIAS is also in communication with the electronic purse or wallet of the seller, and when the sum is to be transferred, giving instructions by the buyer to the CIAS to transfer the sum from his electronic purse or wallet to that of the seller, whereby the CIAS validates the transaction and makes the transfer. 
     
     
         89 . The method according to  claim 88 , wherein the transaction is effected by connection over the Internet. 
     
     
         90 . The method according to  claim 88 , wherein the electronic purse or wallet of the buyer is a device selected from a smart-card device or a floppy disk, or any other suitable carry-on data storage device. 
     
     
         91 . The method according to  claim 88 , wherein the data stored in the buyer's data storage medium, corresponding to the sum to be transferred, is deleted or marked as spent.