Abstract: A method for biometric authorization of an electronic payment between a consumer and a merchant comprising the steps of: (1) a consumer enrollment step for enrollment of a consumer biometric sample, identification information and shipping information and assignment of a unique digital identification number to the consumer; (2) an invoice submittal step for creation of an invoice by a merchant and assignment of an invoice identifier; (3) a consumer notification step regarding a pending invoice; (4) a consumer authentication step by means of a biometric sample; (5) an invoice retrieval step by a consumer; (6) an invoice disposition step by a consumer; (7) a payment authorization step by a consumer; and (8) an invoice payment processing step for processing a payment from a consumer to a merchant.

Abstract: A method for remotely monitoring and managing the operation of fare charging passenger carrying vehicles forming elements of a transportation system. The method is carried out as each vehicle travels a route to pick up and deliver passengers having previously established passenger accounts. The method comprises the steps of maintaining a wireless two-way data link between each vehicle and a system control center having stored passenger account data and maintaining a two-way data link between the system control center and a system management center to allow the system management center to exchange data with the system control center and with each vehicle. A fare charge schedule defining fare charges based on designated criteria is transferred from the system management center to the system control center. The identity of each passenger boarding each vehicle is transmitted to the system control center where the passenger identity is matched with the related passenger account within the system control center.

Abstract: A card-based system electronically transfers funds in real time. A customer card stores digital data representing a unique customer account number associated with a unique, remotely located customer account having at least one vendor-associated subaccount. A merchant terminal having a merchant IP address designating a unique merchant is affiliated with at least one unique vendor for transmitting to a system control center customer transaction data including the merchant IP address, the customer account number read from the customer card and account adjustment data designating either the value of a credit to be added to the vendor-associated subaccount reflecting a customer pre-payment or the value to be subtracted from the vendor-associated customer subaccount reflecting a customer purchase. The system control center maintains a vendor account database and a customer account database.

Abstract: A card-based system electronically transfers funds in real time. A customer card stores digital data representing a unique customer account number associated with a unique, remotely located customer account having at least one vendor-associated subaccount. A merchant terminal having a merchant IP address designating a unique merchant is affiliated with at least one unique vendor for transmitting to a system control center customer transaction data including the merchant IP address, the customer account number read from the customer card and account adjustment data designating either the value of a credit to be added to the vendor-associated subaccount reflecting a customer pre-payment or the value to be subtracted from the vendor-associated customer subaccount reflecting a customer purchase. The system control center maintains a vendor account database and a customer account database.