Method and apparatus to provide securing purchase transactions over a computer network

Abstract

A method and structure for providing secure credit facility transactions for purchasing goods and services over a computer network such as the Internet that stores user's privileged information and other transactional data on the user's own computer. The method includes encryption of all information before or during its storage to the user's hard drive. The method and system includes the ability for the user to complete electronic commerce (e-commerce) transactions without revealing certain of the encrypted information, such as credit card numbers, to the merchant. The method and system creates and controls sub-accounts on a single credit facility, such as a credit card, with unique user reporting and corresponding password identifiers. The method and system sets and control sub-accounts spending amounts and replenishment periods. The method enables the user to create and control recurring debit accounts on a single credit facility, such as a credit card, over varying transactional periods.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of securing transactions over a computer network comprising:
 encrypting customer information comprising a customer address and a customer credit card number as a plurality of customer codes on a storage device on a customer computer, said customer computer is connected to said computer network, and said customer information is stored on said storage device only in encrypted form;   requiring a computer system identifier of said customer computer, and one of a private key, a password, and a personal access codes of a customer as an entry to said customer computer to access said customer codes on said storage device of said customer computer;   supplying a customer code of said customer codes to a merchant in a transaction over said computer network;   forwarding said customer code to a financial institution over said computer network;   decrypting said customer code at said financial institution; and   returning an authorization decision from said financial institution to said merchant over said computer network,   said encrypting customer information comprises encrypting a different user name and different payment rules for each of said customer codes, and   said payment rules comprise transaction limits, credit limits, and periodic spending limits.   
     
     
         2 . The method in  claim 1 , further comprising passing said customer codes through an intermediate confirmation site on said computer network prior to forwarding said customer codes to said financial institution over said computer network, said intermediate confirmation site confirming whether said customer codes has a proper encryption format. 
     
     
         3 . The method in  claim 1 , each of said customer codes includes a unique payment method. 
     
     
         4 . The method in  claim 1 , each of said customer codes includes a different credit card number. 
     
     
         5 . The method in  claim 1 , a group of said customer codes identifies a single credit organization for payment. 
     
     
         6 . The method in  claim 1 , said periodic spending limits include monthly and weekly spending limits. 
     
     
         7 . The method in  claim 1 , said supplying said customer code to said merchant supplies only encrypted information to said merchant. 
     
     
         8 . A method of securing transactions over the Internet comprising:
 encrypting customer information comprising customer address and customer credit card number as a plurality of customer codes on a storage device on a customer computer, said customer computer is connected to said Internet, said customer information is stored on said storage device only in encrypted form;   requiring a computer system identifier of said customer computer, and one of a private key, a password, and a personal access codes of a customer as an entry to said customer computer to access said customer codes on said storage device of said customer computer;   supplying a customer code of said customer codes to a merchant in a transaction over said Internet;   forwarding said customer code to a financial institution over said Internet;   decrypting said customer code at said financial institution; and   returning an authorization decision from said financial institution to said merchant over said Internet,   said encrypting customer information comprises encrypting a different user name and different payment rules for each of said customer codes, and   said payment rules comprise transaction limits, credit limits, and periodic spending limits.   
     
     
         9 . The method in  claim 8 , further comprising passing said customer codes through an intermediate confirmation site on said Internet prior to forwarding said customer codes to said financial institution over said Internet, said intermediate confirmation site confirming whether said customer codes has a proper encryption format. 
     
     
         10 . The method in  claim 8 , each of said customer codes includes a unique payment method. 
     
     
         11 . The method in  claim 8 , each of said customer codes includes a different credit card number. 
     
     
         12 . The method in  claim 8 , a group of said customer codes identifies a single credit organization for payment. 
     
     
         13 . The method in  claim 8 , said periodic spending limits include monthly and weekly spending limits. 
     
     
         14 . The method in  claim 8 , said supplying said customer code to said merchant supplies only encrypted information to said merchant. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising a non-transitory storage device storing instructions executable by a processor of a customer computer for securing transactions over a computer network, said instructions are executable by said processor of said customer computer to:
 encrypt customer information comprising customer address and customer credit card number as a plurality of customer code on a storage device on said customer computer, said customer information is stored on said storage device only in encrypted form;   require a computer system identifier of said customer computer, and one of a private key, a password, and a personal access codes of a customer to access said customer codes; and   supply a customer code of said customer codes to a merchant in a transaction over said computer network, wherein said customer computer includes a network connection to forward said customer code to a financial institution over said computer network, and wherein said financial institution decrypts said customer code and returns an authorization decision to said merchant over said computer network,   said customer information comprises a different user name and different payment rules for each of said customer codes, and   said payment rules comprise transaction limits, credit limits, and periodic spending limits.   
     
     
         16 . The system in  claim 15 , said instructions are executable by said processor of said customer computer to pass said customer codes through an intermediate confirmation site on said computer network prior to forwarding said customer codes to said financial institution over said computer network, said intermediate confirmation site confirming whether said customer codes has a proper encryption format. 
     
     
         17 . The system in  claim 15 , each of said customer codes includes a unique payment system. 
     
     
         18 . The system in  claim 15 , each of said customer codes includes a different credit card number. 
     
     
         19 . The system in  claim 15 , a group of said customer codes identifies a single credit organization for payment. 
     
     
         20 . The system in  claim 15 , said periodic spending limits include monthly and weekly spending limits.