Authorization system of computers

Abstract

A payment system for a distributed computer network such as the Internet. A merchant or vending computer contains promotional information which is communicated to a customer's computer. Order/payment information is communicated to a payment processing computer which automatically contacts a bank for verification. In some embodiments a password is sent to the customer's computer, thereby allowing the customer computer to gain access to restricted data on the merchant computer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A payment authorization system comprising: 
 a) a computer network;    b) a merchant computer containing promotional data, said merchant computer having automatic means for communicating order information via said computer network; and,    c) a financial processing computer, remote from said merchant computer having automatic means responsive to said order information for communicating, via said network of computers, an authorization indica to said merchant computer.    
     
     
         2 . The payment authorization system according to  claim 1 , wherein said merchant computer further includes automatic means for generating a shipping order in response to said authorization indicia.  
     
     
         3 . The payment authorization system according to  claim 1:   a) a customer computer remote to said merchant computer and said financial processing computer; and,    b) wherein said financial processing computer further includes automatic means for communicating a password to said customer computer; and,    c) wherein said merchant computer further includes: 
 1) memory means containing secured data, and,  
 2) automatic means for transmitting the secured data to said customer computer in response to the password from said customer computer.  
   
     
     
         4 . The payment authorization system according to  claim 3 , wherein said password and said authorization indicia are communicated to said customer computer via said merchant computer.  
     
     
         5 . An authorization system comprising: 
 a) a merchant computer having automatic means for communicating payment information via a computer network; and,    d) a remote financial processing computer generating an authorization indicia in response to said payment information.    
     
     
         6 . The authorization system according to  claim 5 , wherein said merchant computer further includes automatic means for generating a shipping order in response to said authorization indicia.  
     
     
         7 . The authorization system according to claim  5 : 
 a) wherein said financial processing computer further includes automatic means for communicating a password to a remote computer; and,    b) wherein said merchant computer further includes means for transmitting secured data to a remote computer in response to the password.    
     
     
         8 . The authorization system according to  claim 7 , wherein said password and said authorization indicia are communicated to the remote computer via said merchant computer.  
     
     
         9 . A system of computers comprising: 
 a) a merchant computer containing promotional data, said merchant computer having automatic means for communicating order information to a selected remote computer;    c) a computer, remote from said merchant computer having automatic means responsive to said order information for communicating an authorization indica to said merchant computer.    
     
     
         10 . The system of computers according to  claim 9 , wherein said merchant computer further includes automatic means for generating a shipping order in response to said authorization indicia.  
     
     
         11 . The system of computers according to claim  9 : 
 a) wherein said financial processing computer further includes automatic means for communicating a password to said customer computer; and,    b) wherein said merchant computer further include secured data, and, means for transmitting the secured data to a remote computer in response to the password.