Method of and system for effecting anonymous credit card purchases over the internet

Abstract

A transaction system for performing secure transactions over a communication network includes (i) a merchant server system including a computer processor and associated memory, the merchant server system offering items for sale; (ii) a buyer system including a computer processor and associated memory, the buyer system being selectively couplable to the merchant server system over the communication network to initiate a transaction, wherein, during the transaction, the buyer system selects one or more of the items for purchase; (iii) a security server system including a computer processor and associated memory and an encryption device, the security server system receiving buyer information from the buyer system, encrypting the buyer information in an encryption key that prevents the merchant server system from decrypting the buyer information, and transferring the encrypted buyer information to the merchant server system; and (iv) a third server system including a computer processor and associated memory, the third server system being selectively couplable to the merchant server system, wherein the merchant server system transmits at least a portion of the encrypted buyer information to the third server system for processing during the transaction.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A transaction system for performing secure transactions over a communication network comprising:
 a merchant server system including a computer processor and associated memory, said merchant server system offering items for sale;   a buyer system including a computer processor and associated memory, said buyer system being selectively coupled to said merchant server system over said communication network to initiate a transaction, wherein, during said transaction, said buyer system selects one or more of said items for purchase;   a payment processor server system distinct from the security server system and including a computer processor and associated memory;   a security server system distinct from said merchant server system and including a computer processor and associated memory and an encryption device, said security server system receiving buyer information from said buyer system, encrypting at least a portion of said buyer information in an encryption key that prevents said merchant server system from decrypting said buyer information, and transferring said encrypted payment portion of said buyer information to said payment processor server system; and   said payment processor server system being selectively coupled to said merchant server system for processing during said transaction;   wherein said merchant server system cannot decrypt said encrypted payment information and said payment processor server system can decrypt said encrypted payment information; and   wherein said payment processor server decrypts said encrypted payment information and using said decrypted payment information, determines if said transaction is authorized or not, and communicates said determination to said merchant server system.