Secure method and system for determining charges and assuring privacy

• US 20030097335A1
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Tresser, Charles P., Moskowitz, Paul A., von Gutfeld, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US09/990,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20030097335A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/52
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A system and method for processing usage data within a local data processing system installed on a remote apparatus. The system comprises: a central server for receiving information from the remote apparatus, and processing the information to obtain a usage payment; and a local data processing system installed on the remote apparatus, having: a monitoring system for gathering usage data from the remote apparatus; a processor for managing the usage data; a communications system for communicating information from the processor to the central server; and a security system, wherein the security system includes an encryption system for securing information transmitted to the central server, and for securing information processed by the central server.

Claims

1. A system for processing usage data within a local data processing system installed on a remote apparatus, wherein the local data processing system comprises:

a sensor for gathering usage data from the remote apparatus; and

a processor for processing the gathered usage data and calculating a charge based on the gathered usage data.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a communications system for transmitting the calculated charge to a central server via a wireless transmission channel.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a security system, wherein the security system comprises a tamper resistant encasement that encases at least one component of the local data processing system.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one encased component comprises the processor.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one encased component comprises the sensor.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the tamper resistant encasement comprises an epoxy having a signature embedded therein.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a security system, wherein the security system comprises an encryption system for encrypting usage data transmitted between the sensor and the processor.

8. The system of claim 2, further comprising a security system, wherein the security system comprises an encryption system for encrypting data communicated by the communications system.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a cryptographic coprocessor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge comprises an insurance cost.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge comprises a rental cost.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote apparatus is selected from the group consisting of:

a vehicle, a boat, an aircraft, a heating system, a home appliance, a medical device, a dwelling, a factory, a commercial establishment, and an insurable object.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor measures a speed of the apparatus.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor collects data from a GPS system.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor measures weight placed on the remote apparatus.

16. A system for managing usage data collected on a remote apparatus, comprising:

a local data processing system having;

a monitoring system for gathering usage data from the remote apparatus;

a processor for processing the usage data;

a communications system for communicating the processed usage data; and

a security system for securing the usage data.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the security system includes a tamper resistant encasement for securing the processor.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the security system includes an encryption system for encrypting usage data communicated from the monitoring system to the processor.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising a central server for receiving the processed usage data and securing a usage payment, wherein the usage payment is determined from the processed usage data.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the security system further comprises a second encryption system for encrypting data transmitted between the communications system and the central server.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the usage payment comprises an insurance payment.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the usage payment comprises a rental payment.

23. A system for managing usage information collected on a remote apparatus, comprising:

a central server for receiving information from the remote apparatus, and processing the information to obtain a usage payment; and

a local data processing system installed on the remote apparatus, having;

a monitoring system for gathering usage data from the remote apparatus;

a processor for managing the usage data;

a communications system for communicating information from the processor to the central server; and

a security system, wherein the security system includes an encryption system for securing information transmitted to the central server, and for securing information processed by the central server.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the usage payment comprises an insurance payment.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the usage payment comprises a rental payment.

26. A method of securely communicating data between remote apparatuses and a central server, comprising the steps of:

generating data D on a first apparatus;

encrypting the data D with a first key K to generate K(D);

transmitting K(D) to a secure partner of the central server;

decrypting K(D) at the secure partner to recover D;

appending a tag T to D and encrypting D and T with a second key k to generate k(D,T), wherein T associates data D with the first apparatus;

transmitting k(D,T) to the central server;

decrypting k(D,T) at the central server to recover D and T; and

processing data D at the central server.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

generating a response A in response to the processing of D;

encrypting A and T with the second key k to generate k(A,T);

transmitting k(A,T) to the secure partner;

decrypting k(A,T) at the secure partner to recover A and T;

encrypting A with first key K to generate K(A);

transmitting K(A) to the first apparatus; and

decrypting K(A) at the first apparatus to recover response A.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein D comprises usage data monitored from apparatus A.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the central server calculates an insurance charge based on data D.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the central server calculates an insurance charge based on data D.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the first apparatus is selected from the group consisting of:

a vehicle, an aircraft, a boat, a medical device, a dwelling, a factory, a commercial establishment, and an insurable object.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein D comprises a request for a rate quotation and A comprises a rate.

33. A method for managing usage data collected on a remote apparatus, comprising:

providing a sensor on the remote apparatus to gather usage data;

communicating the usage data to a processor located on the remote apparatus;

calculating a charge on the processor based on the usage data; and

communicating the charge to a server via a wireless transmission channel.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

obtaining an electronic payment based on the charge.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the charge is an insurance cost.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the charge is a rental cost.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the usage data is encrypted prior to being communicated to the processor.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the charge is encrypted prior to being communicated to the server.