System and method for electronically exchanging value among distributed users

Claim 2

A computer-implemented method of facilitating a value exchange between multiple users in a distributed value exchange system, the method comprising: (a) registering a first user with the value exchange system, wherein the first user is assigned a first account with the value exchange system; (b) receiving at the value exchange system a value exchange transaction from the first user, wherein said transaction involves a second user and includes: (i) a pre-existing identifier of the second user, wherein the pre-existing identifier enables communication with the second user independent of the value exchange system; and (ii) a value to be exchanged between the first user and the second user; wherein the first user sends the value exchange transaction to the value exchange system without informing the second user of the value exchange transaction; and (c) at the value exchange system: (i) computer-generating a notification of said value exchange transaction; (ii) electronically sending said notification to the second user; and (iii) prior to said electronically sending, debiting said value from one of said first account and a second account associated with the second user, and crediting said value to the other of said first account and said second account.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 , further comprising: registering the second user with the value exchange system if not already registered.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 , wherein said value to be exchanged between the first user and the second user is to be transferred from the first user to the second user.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 , wherein said value to be exchanged between the first user and the second user is to be transferred from the second user to the first user.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 , wherein said pre-existing identifier is a telephone number.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 , wherein said pre-existing identifier is an electronic mail address.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 , wherein said receiving a value exchange transaction comprises: initiating a value exchange involving a second user on a mobile client device of said first user; establishing a connection between the first user and the value exchange system; and transmitting said value exchange to the system.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7 , wherein said initiating a value exchange transaction comprises establishing a communication link between the first user's mobile computing device and a second user's mobile client device.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 , wherein said value exchange transaction is received from the first user through a mobile communication device.

Claim 11

The method of claim 9 , wherein the mobile communication device is a personal digital assistant.

Claim 12

The method of claim 9 , wherein the mobile communication device is a telephone.

Claim 13

The method of claim 9 , wherein the mobile communication device is a two-way pager.

Claim 14

The method of claim 9 , wherein said value exchange transaction is received from the mobile communication device through a wireless network.

Claim 15

The method of claim 9 , wherein the mobile communication device is a disconnectable device.

Claim 16

The method of claim 1 , further comprising converting said value to be exchanged between the first user and the second user from a first form to a second form.

Claim 17

The method of claim 15 , wherein said first form is a first currency and said second form is a second currency.

Claim 18

The method of claim 1 , wherein a form of said value to be exchanged between the first user and the second user depends on the pre-existing identifier.

Claim 19

The method of claim 1 , further comprising holding said value to be exchanged between the first user and the second user in escrow with an escrow party until said value exchange transaction is completed.

Claim 20

The method of claim 1 , further comprising repeating (b) and (c) for a second value exchange transaction between the second user and a third user.

Claim 21

The method of claim 1 , wherein an asymmetric cryptographic scheme is applied to secure said value exchange transaction.

Claim 22

A computer-implemented method of facilitating an exchange of value between multiple users through a distributed transaction system separate from the multiple users, the method comprising: (a) receiving an instruction from a first user to exchange a value with a second user, wherein the first user is a registered user of the distributed transaction system and the instruction includes: (i) an identifier of a second user not registered with the distributed transaction system, wherein said identifier is usable to identify the second user independently of the distributed transaction system; and (ii) the value to be exchanged between the first user and the second user; (b) notifying the second user of said value exchange in an electronic communication from the distributed transaction system; (c) registering the second user with the distributed transaction system at a computer, wherein the distributed transaction system comprises the computer; (d) debiting said value from an account of one of the first user and the second user; and (e) crediting said value to an account of the other of the first user and the second user; wherein no term of said value exchange is negotiable by the second user after said receiving and before said debiting and said crediting.

Claim 23

A computer-implemented method of facilitating an exchange of value between multiple users through a distributed transaction system separate from the multiple users, the method comprising: (a) receiving an instruction from a first user to exchange a value with a second user, wherein the first user is a registered user of the distributed transaction system and the instruction includes: (i) an identifier of a second user not registered with the distributed transaction system, wherein said identifier is usable to identify the second user independently of the distributed transaction system; and (ii) the value to be exchanged between the first user and the second user; (b) notifying the second user of said value exchange in an electronic communication from the distributed transaction system; (c) registering the second user with the distributed transaction system at a computer, wherein the distributed transaction system comprises the computer; (d) debiting said value from an account of one of the first user and the second user; and (e) crediting said value to an account of the other of the first user and the second user; wherein no term of said value exchange is negotiable by the second user after said receiving and before said debiting and said crediting.

Claim 24

The method of claim 21 , wherein said identifier is an electronic mail address.

Claim 25

The method of claim 21 , wherein said identifier is a telephone number.

Claim 26

The method of claim 21 , wherein said instruction is received through a mobile communication device operated by the first user.

Claim 27

A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of facilitating a value exchange between multiple users in a distributed value exchange system, the method comprising: (a) registering a first user with the value exchange system, wherein the first user is assigned a first account with the value exchange system; (b) receiving at the value exchange system a value exchange transaction from the first user, wherein said transaction involves a second user and includes: (i) a pre-existing identifier of the second user, wherein the pre-existing identifier enables communication with the second user independent of the value exchange system; and (ii) a value to be exchanged between the first user and the second user; wherein the first user sends the value exchange transaction to the value exchange system without informing the second user of the value exchange transaction; and (c) at the value exchange system: (i) computer-generating a notification of said value exchange transaction; (ii) electronically sending said notification to the second user; and (iii) prior to said electronically sending, debiting said value from one of said first account and a second account associated with the second user, and crediting said value to the other of said first account and said second account.

Claim 28

A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of facilitating a value exchange between multiple users in a distributed value exchange system, the method comprising: (a) registering a first user with the value exchange system, wherein the first user is assigned a first account with the value exchange system; (b) receiving at the value exchange system a value exchange transaction from the first user, wherein said transaction involves a second user and includes: (i) a pre-existing identifier of the second user, wherein the pre-existing identifier enables communication with the second user independent of the value exchange system; and (ii) a value to be exchanged between the first user and the second user; wherein the first user sends the value exchange transaction to the value exchange system without informing the second user of the value exchange transaction; and (c) at the value exchange system: (i) computer-generating a notification of said value exchange transaction; (ii) electronically sending said notification to the second user; and (iii) prior to said electronically sending, debiting said value from one of said first account and a second account associated with the second user, and crediting said value to the other of said first account and said second account.

Claim 29

A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of facilitating an exchange of value between multiple users through a distributed transaction system, the method comprising: (a) receiving an instruction from a first user to exchange a value with a second user, wherein the first user is a registered user of the distributed transaction system and the instruction includes: (i) an identifier of a second user not registered with the distributed transaction system, wherein said identifier is usable to identify the second user independently of the distributed transaction system; and (ii) the value to be exchanged between the first user and the second user; (b) notifying the second user of said value exchange in an electronic communication from the distributed transaction system; (c) registering the second user with the distributed transaction system at a computer, wherein the distributed transaction system comprises the computer; (d) debiting said value from an account of one of the first user and the second user; and (e) crediting said value to an account of the other of the first user and the second user; wherein no term of said value exchange is negotiable by the second user after said receiving and before said debiting and said crediting.

Claim 30

A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of facilitating an exchange of value between multiple users through a distributed transaction system, the method comprising: (a) receiving an instruction from a first user to exchange a value with a second user, wherein the first user is a registered user of the distributed transaction system and the instruction includes: (i) an identifier of a second user not registered with the distributed transaction system, wherein said identifier is usable to identify the second user independently of the distributed transaction system; and (ii) the value to be exchanged between the first user and the second user; (b) notifying the second user of said value exchange in an electronic communication from the distributed transaction system; (c) registering the second user with the distributed transaction system at a computer, wherein the distributed transaction system comprises the computer; (d) debiting said value from an account of one of the first user and the second user; and (e) crediting said value to an account of the other of the first user and the second user; wherein no term of said value exchange is negotiable by the second user after said receiving and before said debiting and said crediting.

Claim 33

A computer-implemented method of transferring value, comprising: receiving a connection from a registered user of a value transfer system, wherein the registered user has a first account with the value transfer system and the first account is identified by a first electronic mail address of the registered user; receiving from the registered user a request to execute a transfer of value to another party, wherein the other party is identified only by a second electronic mail address, the request comprising: said second electronic mail address; and a first value to be transferred to the other party; creating for the other party a second account with the value transfer system, if the second account does not already exist, wherein the second account is identified by said second electronic mail address; at the value transfer system, transferring said first value from the registered user to the other party by debiting the first account by said first value and crediting the second account by said first value; and only after said first value is transferred, sending notification of said transfer from said value transfer system to the other party via electronic mail; wherein the unregistered party is not informed of said transfer by the registered user.

Claim 34

A computer-implemented method of transferring value, comprising: receiving a connection from a registered user of a value transfer system, wherein the registered user has a first account with the value transfer system and the first account is identified by a first electronic mail address of the registered user; receiving from the registered user a request to execute a transfer of value to another party, wherein the other party is identified only by a second electronic mail address, the request comprising: said second electronic mail address; and a first value to be transferred to the other party; creating for the other party a second account with the value transfer system, if the second account does not already exist, wherein the second account is identified by said second electronic mail address; at the value transfer system, transferring said first value from the registered user to the other party by debiting the first account by said first value and crediting the second account by said first value; and only after said first value is transferred, sending notification of said transfer from said value transfer system to the other party via electronic mail; wherein the unregistered party is not informed of said transfer by the registered user.

Claim 35

A computer-implemented method of transferring value, comprising: receiving a connection from a first user of a value transfer system; receiving from the first user a request to execute a value transfer to a second user, the request comprising: an electronic mail address of the second user; and a first value to be transferred to the second user; debiting said first value from an account of the first user; crediting said first value to an account of the second user; and only after said debiting and said crediting, sending a notification of said value transfer from said value transfer system to the second user via electronic mail; wherein said electronic mail address is sufficient for said value transfer system to transfer said first value from an account of the first user to an account associated with the second user; and wherein the second user is not informed of said value transfer until the second user receives said notification.

Claim 36

A computer-implemented method of transferring value, comprising: receiving a connection from a first user of a value transfer system; receiving from the first user a request to execute a value transfer to a second user, the request comprising: an electronic mail address of the second user; and a first value to be transferred to the second user; debiting said first value from an account of the first user; crediting said first value to an account of the second user; and only after said debiting and said crediting, sending a notification of said value transfer from said value transfer system to the second user via electronic mail; wherein said electronic mail address is sufficient for said value transfer system to transfer said first value from an account of the first user to an account associated with the second user; and wherein the second user is not informed of said value transfer until the second user receives said notification.

Claim 37

The method of claim 1 , wherein said registering the first user comprises creating said first account.

Claim 38

The method of claim 30 , wherein said receiving comprises said registering.

Claim 39

The method of claim 1 , further comprising: creating said second account; and registering the second user.

Claim 40

A distributed value exchange system for facilitating a value exchange between multiple users, the value exchange system comprising: (a) registration means for registering a first user with the value exchange system, wherein the first user is assigned a first account with the value exchange system; (b) receiving means for receiving at the value exchange system a value exchange transaction from the first user, wherein said transaction involves a second user and includes: (i) a pre-existing identifier of the second user, wherein the pre-existing identifier enables communication with the second user independent of the value exchange system; and (ii) a value to be exchanged between the first user and the second user; wherein the first user sends the value exchange transaction to the value exchange system without informing the second user of the value exchange transaction; and (c) notification means for: (i) computer-generating a notification of said value exchange transaction; and (ii) electronically sending said notification to the second user; and (d) value exchange means for: (i) debiting said value from one of said first account and a second account associated with the second user; and (ii) crediting said value to the other said first account and said second account.

Claim 41

A distributed value exchange system for facilitating a value exchange between multiple users, the value exchange system comprising: (a) registration means for registering a first user with the value exchange system, wherein the first user is assigned a first account with the value exchange system; (b) receiving means for receiving at the value exchange system a value exchange transaction from the first user, wherein said transaction involves a second user and includes: (i) a pre-existing identifier of the second user, wherein the pre-existing identifier enables communication with the second user independent of the value exchange system; and (ii) a value to be exchanged between the first user and the second user; wherein the first user sends the value exchange transaction to the value exchange system without informing the second user of the value exchange transaction; and (c) notification means for: (i) computer-generating a notification of said value exchange transaction; and (ii) electronically sending said notification to the second user; and (d) value exchange means for: (i) debiting said value from one of said first account and a second account associated with the second user; and (ii) crediting said value to the other said first account and said second account.