System of secured payment by the transfer of electronic money through an interbank network

A method of payment by the transfer of electronic cheques, the method comprising:

• receiving payment at a payment terminal, said payment being made in the form of one of said electronic cheques;
• performing a first test to verify the authenticity of said electronic cheque at said payment terminal;
• transferring said electronic cheque from said payment terminal to a collecting bank unit;
• transferring said electronic cheque from said collecting bank unit to an interbank compensation unit by way of an interbank network, said interbank compensation unit permitting the transfer of electronic money between multiple bank units in payment of amounts owed therebetween arising from said electronic cheques, and said interbank network linking said interbank compensation unit to said multiple bank units;
• and
• performing a second test to verify the authenticity and the non-reutilization of said electronic cheque at a verification unit (1) after the first test to verify the authenticity of said electronic cheque has been performed at said payment terminal, and (2) after said electronic cheque has been transferred from said collecting bank unit to said interbank compensation unit by way of said interbank network.

A system of payment by the transfer of electronic cheques, the system comprising:

• (A) a payment terminal, said payment terminal being capable of receiving a payment in the form of an electronic cheque and of performing a first test to verify the authenticity of said electronic cheque;
• (B) multiple bank units, including
• (1) an issuing bank unit, and
• (2) a collecting bank unit, said collecting bank unit being coupled to said payment terminal and receiving said electronic cheque from said payment terminal;
• (C) an interbank compensation unit, said interbank compensation unit permitting the transfer of electronic money between said multiple bank units in payment of amounts owed therebetween arising from said electronic cheques;
• (D) an interbank network, said interbank network linking said interbank compensation unit to said multiple bank units, and said interbank network enabling the transfer of electronic cheques from said collecting bank unit to said interbank compensation unit;
• and
• (E) a verification unit, said verification unit being capable of performing a second test to verify the authenticity and the non-reutilization of electronic cheques which have already travelled through said interbank network after a first payment and which have already been authenticated at said payment terminal, said verification unit being linked to said interbank compensation unit.