"Tipping" payments on website

How's this for a 1-click solution?

Display an imagebutton in your page showing a range of values, e.g. [10c, 20c, 50c, 1E, 2E, 5E, 10E].

Arrange for clicking the image button to behandled by a server-side function that understands where the button was clicked (using the x+y coordinates) to get the tip value, what page it was on to get the recipient ID and which user clicked the button to get the source of the funds. The server function will debit the clicker's account and credit the recipient's account. A clever system would replace the image button with somehting to confirm the amount paid and say thank you.

Of course this relies on the user being loged in and having some credit in an account.

If you're not willing to have the user log in and/or pre-pay you'll need to use a payment engine/gateway, and that will involve lots of clicks.

brian,

I understand your suggestion, but I am afraid I was thinking in the realms of a payment gateway, since I want the money to go directly from the user's credit card to the authors bank account.
Sorry if I didn't make that clear.

Suggestions for a proper payment gateway are most welcome.

jgivoni

jgivoni, please close this question and distribute the points.
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Thanks,
Quomon Admin