Method of securely passing a value token between web sites

In an electronic commerce system, a method of allowing a user to obtain a benefit from at least one affiliate because the user is a member of a club, comprising:

• registering the user as a member of the club;
• creating a value token associating the club member with entitlement to the benefit;
• cryptographically signing the value token to create a credential;
• and
• communicating the credential to the at least one affiliate.

In an electronic commerce system, a method of providing a benefit to a member of a club controlled by a club manager comprising:

• receiving a credential signed by the club manager, the credential including a value token associating a club member with entitlement to a benefit;
• verifying authenticity of the value token;
• and
• obtaining information from the club member to complete a benefit transaction and providing the benefit to the club member when the value token is verified.

In an electronic commerce system, a method of obtaining a benefit from an affiliate of a club controlled by a club manager, comprising:

• registering as a member of the club;
• indicating to the club manager a desire to receive a benefit from an affiliate;
• and
• in response to a request from the affiliate, communicating information to the affiliate to enable the affiliate to deliver the benefit.

An article comprising:

• a machine readable medium having a plurality of machine readable instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by a processor, the instructions allow a user to obtain a benefit from at least one affiliate because the user is a member of a club in an electronic commerce system, by
• registering the user as a member of the club;
• creating a value token associating the club member with entitlement to the benefit;
• cryptographically signing the value token to create a credential;
• and
• communicating the credential to the at least one affiliate.

An article comprising:

• a machine readable medium having a plurality of machine readable instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by a processor, the instructions coordinate provision of a benefit by an affiliate to a member of a club controlled by a club manager in an electronic commerce system by:
• receiving a credential signed by the club manager, the credential including a value token associating a club member with entitlement to a benefit;
• verifying authenticity of the value token;
• and
• obtaining information from the club member to complete a benefit transaction and providing the benefit to the club member when the value token is verified.

An article comprising:

• a machine readable medium having a plurality of machine readable instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by a processor, the instructions provide for obtaining a benefit from an affiliate of a club controlled by a club manager in an electronic commerce system by
• registering a user as a member of the club;
• indicating to the club manager a desire to receive a benefit from an affiliate;
• and
• in response to a request from the affiliate, communicating information to the affiliate to enable the affiliate to deliver the benefit.