Network-based consumer transactions with credit accounts

1. A computer-implemented method for execution by a data processor, the method comprising:

receiving a purchase transaction from an on-line purchaser in an online purchase transaction via a digital network interface, the purchase transaction including purchase transaction information including a purchaser credit number uniquely associated with a purchaser credit account previously established on a payment site, the purchaser credit number being defined by the purchaser when the purchaser credit account is created, the purchaser credit number uniquely associating the purchaser with the corresponding purchaser credit account on the payment site, the purchaser credit number being different from existing credit card numbers, the purchaser credit number being any unique variable-length combination of letters, numbers, or symbols, the purchaser credit number for controlling access privileges and an access process for particular merchants to access the purchaser credit account, the access privileges and access process for particular merchants being readily modifiable by the purchaser at the payment site;

using the data processor to process the purchaser credit number to obtain associated purchaser credit account information maintained at the payment site;

receiving from the payment site a disposition of the purchase transaction; and

receiving from the payment site purchaser-specific information to streamline the purchase transaction.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further including receiving from the payment site merchant-specific information to streamline the purchase transaction.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 further including receiving a credit verification value (CVV) from the purchaser, the CVV being readily modifiable by the purchaser at the payment site.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the purchaser credit account includes purchaser configurable preferences.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the purchaser configurable preferences include security preferences.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the purchaser configurable preferences include an identification of authorized merchants.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the purchaser configurable preferences include a transaction authorization process associated with at least one identified authorized merchant.

8. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the purchaser configurable preferences include shipping preferences.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 further including:

enabling purchaser log in at the payment site; and

enabling purchaser modification of the purchaser credit account information maintained at the payment site.

10. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory machine-readable medium having machine executable instructions embedded thereon, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

receive a purchase transaction from an on-line purchaser in an online purchase transaction, the purchase transaction including purchase transaction information including a purchaser credit number uniquely associated with a purchaser credit account previously established on a payment site, the purchaser credit number being defined by the purchaser when the purchaser credit account is created, the purchaser credit number uniquely associating the purchaser with the corresponding purchaser credit account on the payment site, the purchaser credit number being different from existing credit card numbers, the purchaser credit number being any unique variable-length combination of letters, numbers, or symbols, the purchaser credit number for controlling access privileges and an access process for particular merchants to access the purchaser credit account, the access privileges and access process for particular merchants being readily modifiable by the purchaser at the payment site;

use the purchaser credit number to obtain associated purchaser credit account information maintained at the payment site;

receive from the payment site a disposition of the purchase transaction; and

receive from the payment site purchaser-specific information to streamline the purchase transaction.

11. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 10 further operable to receive from the payment site merchant-specific information to streamline the purchase transaction.

12. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 10 further operable to receive a credit verification value (CVV) from the purchaser, the CVV being readily modifiable by the purchaser at the payment site.

13. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 10 wherein the purchaser credit account includes purchaser configurable preferences.

14. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 13 wherein the purchaser configurable preferences include security preferences.

15. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 13 wherein the purchaser configurable preferences include an identification of authorized merchants.

16. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 15 wherein the purchaser configurable preferences include a transaction authorization process associated with at least one identified authorized merchant.

17. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 13 wherein the purchaser configurable preferences include shipping preferences.

18. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 10 further operable to:

enable purchaser log in at the payment site; and

enable purchaser modification of the purchaser credit account information maintained at the payment site.

19. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor to store information related to a purchaser and a merchant; and

a payment processor operably coupled with the processor and the memory, operable to:

receive a purchase transaction from an on-line purchaser in an online purchase transaction, the purchase transaction including purchase transaction information including a purchaser credit number uniquely associated with a purchaser credit account previously established on a payment site, the purchaser credit number being defined by the purchaser when the purchaser credit account is created, the purchaser credit number uniquely associating the purchaser with the corresponding purchaser credit account on the payment site, the purchaser credit number being different from existing credit card numbers, the purchaser credit number being any unique variable-length combination of letters, numbers, or symbols, the purchaser credit number for controlling access privileges and an access process for particular merchants to access the purchaser credit account, the access privileges and access process for particular merchants being readily modifiable by the purchaser at the payment site;

use the purchaser credit number to obtain associated purchaser credit account information maintained at the payment site;

receive from the payment site a disposition of the purchase transaction; and

receive from the payment site purchaser-specific information to streamline the purchase transaction.

20. The system as claimed in claim 19 further operable to receive from the payment site merchant-specific information to streamline the purchase transaction.

21. The system as claimed in claim 19 further operable to receive a credit verification value (CVV) from the purchaser, the CVV being readily modifiable by the purchaser at the payment site.

22. The system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the purchaser credit account includes purchaser configurable preferences.

23. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the purchaser configurable preferences include security preferences.

24. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the purchaser configurable preferences include an identification of authorized merchants.

25. The system as claimed in claim 24 wherein the purchaser configurable preferences include a transaction authorization process associated with at least one identified authorized merchant.

26. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the purchaser configurable preferences include shipping preferences.

27. The system as claimed in claim 19 further operable to:

enable purchaser log in at the payment site; and

enable purchaser modification of the purchaser credit account information maintained at the payment site.