Method and apparatus for processing a secure transaction

• US 20030115148A1
• Filed: 12/13/2001
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Harinder Singh Takhar
• Original Assignee: Harinder Singh Takhar
• Inventors: Takhar, Harinder Singh
• Application Number:
  US10/017,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20030115148A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

A computer process, a computing system or an article of manufacture for processing a secure transaction. A process of accepting a secure transaction from a lockbox that stores private information accessible via a security protocol includes the steps of accepting a transaction initiated by a lockbox, determining whether the transaction was initiated by a lockbox, and identifying the transaction as a lockbox transaction. The method can include the step of determining what security protocol was used to initiate the transaction.

Claims

1. In an interactive communications network, a method of processing a transaction via a lockbox storing private information that is accessible via a security protocol, comprising:

accepting a transaction initiated by a lockbox;

determining whether the transaction was initiated by a lockbox; and

identifying the transaction as a lockbox transaction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes the step of determining what security protocol was used to initiate the transaction.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the security protocol is selected from a group comprising a PIN, biometric, and password.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of saving a change in security protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction is a merchant transaction, wherein merchant information is transmitted to the lockbox, the merchant information identifying the merchant.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the merchant transmits merchant information identifying the merchant to a remote device operated by a user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction is a payment by a third party.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction is an identification transaction.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction is an authorization level.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the identification transaction is an electronic document transfer.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the identification transaction is provides access to a secure facility.

12. A system for processing transactions in an interactive communications network, comprising:

a lockbox module storing private information accessible via a security protocol;

a transaction module coupled to the lockbox module for initiating a transaction;

a transaction site module for receiving a transaction, wherein the transaction site module does not receive any private information; and

an identification module for identifying a transaction as originating from a lockbox.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising an audit module for storing a change in security protocol.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the audit module stores transaction information, wherein the transaction information includes the security protocol associated with a transaction.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the identification module determines what security protocol was used to initiate a transaction.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the security protocol is selected from a group comprising a PIN, biometric, and password.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the transaction module receives identification information from a transaction site.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the transaction is a payment by a third party.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the transaction is an identification transaction.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the transaction is an authorization level.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the identification transaction is an electronic document transfer.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the identification transaction is provides access to a secure facility.

23. An apparatus for processing a transaction via a lockbox storing private information that is accessible via a security protocol in an interactive communications network, comprising:

a computer, operatively connected to the interactive communications network, for accepting a transaction initiated by a lockbox;

determining whether the transaction was initiated by a lockbox;

and identifying the transaction as a lockbox transaction.

24. An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer having a memory, the medium tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for processing a transaction via a lockbox storing private information that is accessible via a security protocol, the method steps comprising:

accepting a transaction initiated by a lockbox;

determining whether the transaction was initiated by a lockbox; and

identifying the transaction as a lockbox transaction.