Welcome!
Welcome to Http402.Org. This Web site describes an open financial‐transaction system for the Internet. Our goal is to design a suite of protocols, publish the designs as RequestForComments (RFC) documents, to create SoftwareImplementations of the protocols, and to advance the protocols and their documentation to the level of InternetStandard. The system’s first application is payment at Web sites.
Motivation
We assert that an open financial‐transaction system for the Internet could and should help in EmpoweringThePoor, ReducingIdentityTheft, IncreasingGlobalization, FreeTheMusicians (sic), NewProducts, CoolSciFiTechnology.
Why HTTP “402”?
The HypertextTransferProtocol is, to make a gross simplification, the way in which your Web browser talks to Web sites. When you access a Web site, your browser starts by connecting to the site’s server and, typically, sending a “GET” request for some document. If the server is able and willing to fulfill the request for that document, the server indicates its ability and its willingness with a “200” response (“OK”) that includes the document. Your browser then shows you that document, yielding what many people call “a Web page”. If the server is unable to locate a document per the request, the server would probably indicate its inability with a “404” response (“not found”). If the server is unwilling to provide the document per the request, the server would probably indicate its unwillingness with a “401” response (“unauthorized”) or with a “405” response (“method not allowed”).
There are dozens of these status codes for use in responses. One of the codes is “402”, which the specifications of the HypertextTransferProtocol entitle “payment required”. But those very specifications then declare, “This code is reserved for future use.” We’re tired of waiting for “the future.” The future is now and the use is clear: to make purchases using our Web browsers—quickly and safely.
Contribute your Expertise
Edit this wiki! Add information and new ideas. If you’re unfamiliar with MoinMoin wiki software, see HelpForBeginners.
Write SoftwareImplementations.
Chat with MichaelLeonhard on Freenode’s “crypto” channel.
Michael Leonhard’s Proposal
Michael Leonhard’s proposal comprises LeonhardIntro, LeonhardOverview, CodeFormat, OnlinePaymentProtocol, PolyserverTransfers, HttpProtocolExtension, BrowserPlugins, and OtherConsiderations.
You should also read EvaluatingPaymentSystems and ExistingSystems.
This site is maintained by MichaelLeonhard.