Internet payment, authentication and loading system using virtual smart card

Abstract

A system loads, authenticates and uses a virtual smart card for payment of goods and/or services purchased on-line over the Internet. An online purchase and load (OPAL) server includes a virtual smart card data base that has a record of information for each smart card that it represents for a user at the behest of an issuer. The server includes a smart card emulator that emulates a smart card by using the card data base and a hardware security module. The emulator interacts with a pseudo card reader module in the server that imitates a physical card reader. The server also includes a client code module that interacts with the pseudo card reader and a remote payment or load server. A pass-through client terminal presents a user interface and passes information between the OPAL server and a merchant server, and between the OPAL server and a bank server.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A computer-implemented method of redeeming loyalty points over a network using an on-line loyalty server having a record in a database representing a virtual smart card, said method comprising:
 receiving an amount of loyalty points to be redeemed by a user for benefits, said amount originating from a web server over said network;   formulating a draw request message using information in said virtual smart card record;   sending said draw request message to an authentication server connected to said network so that said draw request may be processed by a security card associated with said authentication server;   receiving a debit command from said authentication server;   debiting a balance of said loyalty points in said virtual smart card record by said amount; and   sending a debit response message to said authentication server, whereby said web server may be informed that said redemption of said loyalty points is a success and said web server may release said benefits to a user associated with said virtual smart card record.   
     
     
         31 . A method as recited in  claim 30  wherein said network is an internet and said web server includes a web site for displaying said benefits over said internet. 
     
     
         32 . A method as recited in  claim 30  wherein said on-line loyalty server includes a smart card emulator and said method further comprises:
 sending smart card commands to said smart card emulator that processes said commands in conjunction with said virtual smart card record of said database to assist in formulating said draw request message. 
 
     
     
         33 . A method as recited in  claim 32  wherein said on-line loyal to server includes a hardware security module and said method further comprises:
 generating cryptographic signatures for use in transacting said redemption using said hardware security module, whereby said on-line loyalty server implements a secure transaction over said network. 
 
     
     
         34 . A method of performing online payment transactions over a network via smart card emulation, the method comprising:
 storing information representing a plurality of virtual smart cards, wherein the information representing each of the plurality of virtual smart cards includes a record of information;
 receiving card reader commands; 
 formatting the card reader commands; and 
 parsing the formatted card reader commands in order to fetch data associated with a record of information that corresponds to a virtual smart card associated with one of the plurality of virtual smart cards. 
   
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising:
 parsing the formatted card reader commands in order to store data associated with a record of information that corresponds to a virtual smart card associated with one of the plurality of virtual smart cards.   
     
     
         36 . A computer server operable to perform online payment transactions over a network, comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor disposed in communication with the memory and configured to issue processing instructions stored in the memory to:
 store information representing a plurality of virtual smart cards, wherein the information representing each of the plurality of virtual smart cards includes a record of information; 
 receive card reader commands; 
 format the card reader commands; and 
 parse the formatted card reader commands in order to fetch data associated with a record of information that corresponds to a virtual smart card associated with one of the plurality of virtual smart cards. 
   
     
     
         37 . The computer server according to  claim 36 , wherein the processor disposed in communication with the memory is further configured to issue processing instructions stored in the memory to:
 parse the formatted card reader commands in order to store data associated with a record of information that corresponds to a virtual smart card associated with one of the plurality of virtual smart cards.   
     
     
         38 . A processor-readable tangible medium storing processor-issuable smart card emulation online payment transaction instructions to:
 store information representing a plurality of virtual smart cards, wherein the information representing each of the plurality of virtual smart cards includes a record of information;
 receive card reader commands; 
 format the card reader commands; and 
 parse the formatted card reader commands in order to fetch data associated with a record of information that corresponds to a virtual smart card associated with one of the plurality of virtual smart cards. 
   
     
     
         39 . The processor-readable tangible medium according to  claim 38 , further comprising instructions to:
 parse the formatted card reader commands in order to store data associated with a record of information that corresponds to a virtual smart card associated with one of the plurality of virtual smart cards.   
     
     
         40 . A computer-implemented method of transacting a sale of an item over a network using an on-line purchase server having a record in a database representing a virtual smart card, said method comprising:
 receiving via a computer-implemented pseudo card reader module a cost of an item to be purchased by a user, said cost originating from a merchant server over said network;   formulating via the computer a draw request message using information in a virtual smart card record;   sending via the computer said draw request message to a payment server;   receiving via the computer a debit command from said payment server;   debiting via the computer a balance amount in said virtual smart card record by said cost; and   sending via the computer a debit response message to said payment server, whereby said merchant server may be informed that said sale of said item is a success and said merchant server may release said item to a user associated with said virtual smart card record.   
     
     
         41 . A method as recited in  claim 40  wherein said network is an internet and said merchant server includes a merchant web site for advertising said item over said internet. 
     
     
         42 . A method as recited in  claim 40  wherein said on-line purchase server includes a smart card emulator and said method further comprises:
 sending smart card commands to said smart card emulator that processes said commands in conjunction with said virtual smart card record of said database to assist in formulating said draw request message. 
 
     
     
         43 . A method as recited in  claim 42  wherein said on-line purchase server includes a hardware security module and said method further comprises:
 generating cryptographic signatures for use in transacting said sale using said hardware security module, whereby said on-line purchase server implements a secure transaction over said network. 
 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein sending said draw request message to a payment server further comprises:
 processing said draw request via a security card associated with said payment server.   
     
     
         45 . A computer-implemented method of transacting a sale of an item over a network using an on-line purchase server having a record in a database representing a virtual smart card, said method comprising:
 receiving via a computer-implemented pseudo card reader module a cost of an item to be purchased by a user, said cost originating from a merchant server over said network;   formulating via the computer a draw request message using information in a virtual smart card record;   sending via the computer said draw request message to a payment server-connected to said network so that said draw request may be processed by a security element associated with said payment server;   receiving via the computer a debit command from said payment server;   debiting via the computer a balance amount in said virtual smart card record by said cost; and   sending via the computer a debit response message to said payment server, whereby said merchant server may be informed that said sale of said item is a success and said merchant server may release said item to a user associated with said virtual smart card record.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said network is an internet and said merchant server includes a merchant web site for advertising said item over said internet. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said on-line purchase server includes a smart card emulator and said method further comprises:
 sending smart card commands to said smart card emulator that processes said commands in conjunction with said virtual smart card record of said database to assist in formulating said draw request message.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said on-line purchase server includes a hardware security module and said method further comprises:
 generating cryptographic signatures for use in transacting said sale using said hardware security module, whereby said on-line purchase server implements a secure transaction over said network.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the security element is a security card.