Electronic commerce transactions over a peer-to-peer communications channel

A computer-readable storage media that is not a signal having computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

• receive a request from a P2P node to purchase a digital good via a P2P communications channel;
• in response to the request, to add a clearinghouse server computer to the P2P communications channel and to transmit to the clearinghouse server computer via the P2P communications channel a request to charge an account associated with the P2P node for the digital good;
• receive a confirmation message from the clearinghouse server computer on the P2P communications channel indicating that the account was successfully charged;
• and
• in response to receiving the confirmation message, transmitting an encrypted digital good to the P2P node via the P2P communications channel, and wherein the clearinghouse server computer is operative to authenticate the P2P node and to transmit a key to decrypt the encrypted digital good to the P2P node via the P2P communications channel in response to successfully charging the account.

A method for completing an electronic commerce transaction over a peer-to-peer (P2P) communications channel, the method comprising:

• joining a clearinghouse server to a secure P2P communications channel between a first P2P node and a second P2P node in response to a request from the first P2P node such that the clearinghouse server receives all communications transmitted on the P2P communications channel by the P2P nodes and such that the P2P nodes receive all communications transmitted on the P2P communications channel by the clearinghouse server;
• receiving at the clearinghouse server via the P2P communications channel a request to charge an account associated with the second P2P node;
• attempting to authorize the charge by way of the clearinghouse server by transmitting a request for authorization from the clearinghouse server to the second P2P node on the P2P communications channel, and receiving a digital signature on the P2P communications channel from the P2P node at the clearinghouse server authorizing the charge;
• and
• in response to determining that the charge is authorized at the clearinghouse server, transmitting a confirmation message from the clearinghouse server to the first P2P node on the P2P communications channel indicating that the charge was made.