Method and apparatus for electronic transactions

Abstract

Communication and a communications apparatus are controlled with a communication intermediating apparatus. Multiple methods of processing communication requests are provided. Decided rules comprising of pairs of identification information of communication requests and methods of processing are recorded beforehand. When a communication request is received, the identification of the communication request is distinguished, an applying rule is picked from the recorded rules, and the communication request is processed. A virtual account to be set maximum payment amount beforehand is used, and electronic transactions communication is done.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . In a computer system, a method for processing commercial transactions between a buyer and a seller, said buyer holds an account,
 said method comprising:   said buyer transmits a maximum payment amount to a computer of a bank holding an account;   using said maximum payment amount as a balance of a virtual account (hereafter said virtual account is referred as a virtual-account);   said buyer transmits a password to be used for verifying transaction-approval-requests to said computer of said bank;   a terminal of said seller transmits a transaction-approval-request of transaction price to said computer,   said terminal is connected with said computer via communication networks;   said computer reads said balance of said account and the balance of said virtual-account,   determines whether transaction price is not more than the account balance,   if the transaction price is not more than the account balance,   determines whether the transaction price is not more than the virtual-account balance,   if the transaction price is not more than the virtual-account balance,   presents a verification-request to the buyer for verifying said transaction-approval-request;   the buyer transmits said password to said computer for verifying said transaction-approval-request;   The computer transmits an approval to the seller only after the transaction-approval-request is verified by the buyer,   debits the transaction price from the buyer's account, and   subtracts the transaction price from the buyer's virtual-account balance.