Mechanism for enabling secure electronic transactions on the open internet

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein communication between said user and said transaction server is configured to appear as a World Wide Web communication.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein communication over said communication network between said user and said transaction server employs an encrypted protocol at least in part operating over a telephone link.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein said open network comprises the Internet.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 wherein said open network comprises the world wide web.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein said user is in communication with said remotely located server and said transaction server over a personal computer.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 wherein said remotely located server is employed by a vendor to advertise on the open network.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7 wherein said transaction comprises a purchase.

Claim 10

The method of claim 8 wherein said transaction authorization number is a credit card number.

Claim 11

The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises the step of receiving from said remotely located server a telephone number of said transaction server.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) includes the step of suspending communication between said user and said remotely located server by placing said remotely located server in a hold state.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1 wherein said communication in step (c) is initiated by said user.

Claim 14

The method of claim 12 wherein said user initiates communication with said transaction server by performing the step of retrieving a locally stored telephone number of said transaction server.

Claim 15

The method of claim 12 wherein said user initiates communication with said transaction server by retrieving a telephone number from a directory located in said communication network.

Claim 16

The method of claim 5 wherein said transaction is initiated by the user using a World Wide Web browser.

Claim 17

The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: f. discontinuing communication between said user and said transaction server after completion of step (e); g. resuming communication between said user and said remotely located server contemporaneous with step (f) and substantially seamless to said user.

Claim 18

The method of claim 16 wherein steps (f) and (g) occur automatically after completion of step (e).

Claim 19

A computer readable medium having a computer program encoded thereon for performing a transaction initiated over an open communication network between a user and a remotely located server, comprising: a first portion of said medium having a first program segment for receiving a transaction identification number from the remotely located server over the open network; a second portion of said medium having a second program segment for automatically discontinuing communication between said user and said remotely located server responsive to a request from said user to complete the transaction; a third portion of said medium having a third program segment for automatically establishing communication between said user and a transaction server over a communication network isolated from said open network responsive to the request from said user to complete the transaction, and seamless to said user and contemporaneous with automatically discontinuing communication performed by said second program segment; a fourth portion of said medium having a fourth program segment for transmitting said transaction identification number to said transaction server over said communication network; a fifth portion of said medium having a fifth program segment for transmitting over said communication network, after the transaction server confirms validity of the transaction identification number and in response to a request from said transaction server, a transaction authorization number to said transaction server to complete the transaction.

Claim 20

A computer readable medium having a computer program encoded thereon for performing a transaction initiated over an open communication network between a user and a remotely located server, comprising: a first portion of said medium having a first program segment for receiving a transaction identification number from the remotely located server over the open network; a second portion of said medium having a second program segment for automatically discontinuing communication between said user and said remotely located server responsive to a request from said user to complete the transaction; a third portion of said medium having a third program segment for automatically establishing communication between said user and a transaction server over a communication network isolated from said open network responsive to the request from said user to complete the transaction, and seamless to said user and contemporaneous with automatically discontinuing communication performed by said second program segment; a fourth portion of said medium having a fourth program segment for transmitting said transaction identification number to said transaction server over said communication network; a fifth portion of said medium having a fifth program segment for transmitting over said communication network, after the transaction server confirms validity of the transaction identification number and in response to a request from said transaction server, a transaction authorization number to said transaction server to complete the transaction.

Claim 21

The medium of claim 18 wherein said third, fourth and fifth program segments are executed such that communication between said user and said transaction server is configured to appear as a World Wide Web communication.

Claim 22

The medium of claim 18 wherein said third, fourth, and fifth program segments employ an encrypted protocol operating at least in part over a telephone link.

Claim 23

The medium of claim 18 wherein said open network comprises the Internet.

Claim 24

The medium of claim 21 wherein said open network comprises the World Wide Web.

Claim 25

The medium of claim 18 wherein said remotely located server is employed by a vendor to advertise on the open network.

Claim 26

The medium of claim 23 wherein said transaction comprises a purchase.

Claim 27

The medium of claim 24 wherein said transaction authorization number is a credit card number.

Claim 28

The medium of claim 18 wherein said first program segment further receives from said remotely located server a telephone number of said transaction server.

Claim 29

The medium of claim 18 wherein said second program segment suspends communication between said user and said remotely located server by placing said remotely located server in a hold state.

Claim 30

The medium of claim 18 wherein said third program segment initiates communication between said user and said transaction server.

Claim 31

The medium of claim 28 wherein said third program segment initiates communication with said transaction server by retrieving a locally stored telephone number of said transaction server from a sixth portion of said medium.

Claim 32

The medium of claim 28 wherein said third program segment initiates communication with said transaction server by retrieving a telephone number from a directory located in said communication network.

Claim 33

The medium of claim 22 further comprising a sixth portion of said medium having a sixth program segment for browsing on the World Wide Web.