Importance

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Abstract

A number of fault-tolerant methods for purchasing digital goods with a digital token over a network in which the token's value resides either with a customer or a merchant are disclosed. One version of the method comprises the steps of establishing a price with a merchant for a digital good. A merchant-signed invoice and the digital good in encrypted form are then sent from the merchant to the customer. The invoice is signed with the customer's signature to produce a countersigned invoice. The countersigned invoice, a token (which can be an anonymous token), and identifying information for the token are sent from the customer to the merchant. The countersigned invoice, the token, and the identifying information are sent from the merchant for verification. The token is verified with the identifying information and the other information in the countersigned purchase order is checked. The transaction is committed when the token and other information in the countersigned purchase order are verified such that the value of the token is transferred from the customer to the merchant. The transaction is then completed by providing the customer with the key for decrypting the encrypted goods.

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First Claim