Abstract: A system for safe collection of payment by a vehicle operator from riders, the system including a multiplicity of electronic payment receipt generators, each operable by a vehicle operator, wherein each individual one of the payment receipt generators includes an electronic purse storing an amount of electronic cash, each electronic purse including an electronic cash loader operative to use some of the electronic cash to generate a payment receipt to be given by the vehicle operator to a rider, and an electronic purse control unit operative to prevent said electronic cash loader from exceeding said amount of electronic cash, thereby limiting the vehicle operator's entitlement to collect payments from riders, and an electronic cashier purse operative to increment the electronic purse of each electronic payment receipt generator by the amount of payment collected by the vehicle operator to whom the electronic payment receipt generator is assigned.

Abstract: A secure computer system including a host computer unit having embedded in a single package, a host CPU, and an authenticating and security controlling computer, a verification unit and a smart card accepting connector providing a public-key protected communication channel between the authenticating and security controlling computer and the verification unit, in a first mode of operation of the secure computer system, and between the host CPU, via the authenticating and security controlling computer, and a smart card, via smart cord terminal, in a second mode of operation of the secure computer system, wherein communication between the authenticating and security controlling computer and the smart card terminal is unmediated, and wherein the verification unit is operative to verify the identity of the authenticating and security controlling computer in the first mode of operation.