Token delivery system

1. A token process, including:

storing transaction data for purchase of a product during a redemption period, including identification data unique to a purchaser of the product, in a network database;

at a time subsequent to storing transaction data for purchase of the product, receiving a request for a virtual token for redemption for the product and verifying the validity of the request using the stored identification data and data provided with the request;

generating a virtual token having a first token number and a lifetime of a predetermined limited duration shorter than the redemption period for the product;

sending the virtual token from a network device over a communications network to a handheld device to generate a machine-readable representation of the token in the handheld device following verification of the validity of the request for the token, the machine-readable representation of the token becoming invalid if not redeemed for the product within the lifetime of the virtual token;

determining that the virtual token has become invalid from not being redeemed for the product within the lifetime of the virtual token;

automatically creating an updated virtual token having a second token number different from the first token number when the virtual token has become invalid;

updating the handheld device with a machine-readable representation according to the updated virtual token;

receiving the updated virtual token from a reading device located at a point of provision of the product following reading the representation according to the updated virtual token from the handheld device with the reading device; and

authorizing redemption of the product upon validation of the received updated virtual token against the transaction data in the network database.

2. A token process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said machine-readable representation is produced on a visual display of said handheld device.

3. A token process as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said machine-readable representation on said visual display is a barcode.

4. A token process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said handheld device is a mobile telephone.

5. A token process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said handheld device is a personal digital assistant (PDA).

6. A token process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said handheld device is a smartcard.

7. A token process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein validation of said token is performed by the reading device against said transaction data, of said network database, stored in said reading device.

8. A token process as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said validation is dependent on previous validations.

9. A token process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said sending includes transmitting said token using a network communications protocol, such as TCP/IP, SMS, GPRS or WAP.

10. A token process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said token lifetime is determined by said transaction data.

11. A token process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the automatically creating includes generating a new virtual token after expiration of the token lifetime of the virtual token, the updated virtual token being the new virtual token.

12. A token process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the product is redeemable within a redemption period and the lifetime of the virtual token is distinct from the redemption period.

13. A token process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the product has a lifetime and the lifetime of the virtual token is independent of the lifetime of the product.

14. A token process as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising reusing the first token number with another virtual token associated with a different purchaser.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing a computer program which, upon execution by a computer system, causes the computer system to perform operations comprising:

storing transaction data for purchase of a product, including identification data unique to a purchaser of the product, in a network database;

at a time subsequent to the storing transaction data for purchase of the product, receiving a request for a virtual token for redemption for the product and verifying the validity of the request using the stored identification data and data provided with the request;

generating a virtual token having a first token number and a lifetime of a predetermined limited duration shorter than the redemption period of the product;

sending the virtual token from a network device over a communication network to a handheld device to generate a machine-readable representation of the token in the handheld device following verification of the validity of the request for the token, the machine-readable representation of the token becoming invalid if not redeemed for the product within the lifetime of the virtual token;

determining that the virtual token has become invalid from not being redeemed for the product within the lifetime of the virtual token;

automatically creating an updated virtual token having a second token number different from the first token number when the virtual token has become invalid;

updating the handheld device with a machine-readable representation according to the updated virtual token;

receiving the updated virtual token from a reading device located at a point of provision of the product following reading the representation according to the updated virtual token from the handheld device with the reading device; and

authorizing redemption of the product upon validation of the received updated virtual token against the transaction data in the network database.

16. A token system including a transaction server accessed over a communications network including:

a processor;

a database on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for storing transaction data for the purchase of a product, including identification data unique to a purchaser of the product; and

a transaction module which upon execution by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

at a time subsequent to the storing of transaction data for the purchase of the product, receiving a request for a virtual token for redemption for the product and verifying the validity of the request using the stored identification data and data provided with the request;

generating a virtual token having a first token number and a lifetime of a predetermined limited duration shorter than the redemption period of the product;

sending the virtual token over the communications network to a handheld device to generate a machine-readable representation of the token in the handheld device following verification of the validity of the request for the token,

the machine-readable representation of the token becoming invalid if not redeemed for the product within the lifetime of the virtual token;

determining that the virtual token has become invalid from not being redeemed for the product within the lifetime of the virtual token;

automatically creating an updated virtual token having a second token number different from the first token number when the virtual token has become invalid;

updating the handheld device with a machine-readable representation according to the updated virtual token;

receiving the updated virtual token from a reading device located at a point of provision of the product following reading the representation according to the updated virtual token from the handheld device with the reading device; and

authorizing redemption of the product upon validation of the received updated virtual token against the transaction data in the network database.

17. A token system as claimed in claim 16 , including a reading system having a reading device for reading said token and causing validation of said token, said reading device being at a point of provision of said product.

18. A token system as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said product is a good or service.

19. A token system as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the product comprises one or more of access to facilities, an event, a discount, or exchange for currency.