Encrypted e-commerce product

• US 20040162782A1
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: O Hastiner Svc LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Bible, Robert Jr., Burnett, Mark Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,788,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A system for conducting a financial transaction in e-commerce on the internet includes objects prepared by a seller and a buyer. The seller'"'"'s object includes a clear text header file (advertisement), an encrypted overhead file which contains verification data pertaining to the financial transaction, and an encrypted content file containing the subject matter for sale by the seller. With a purchase solicitation from the buyer, an overhead key can be used by a transaction agency to ensure there is a compliance between the purchase solicitation and the verification data of the overhead (from seller'"'"'s object). Next a revelation key is provided to give the buyer access to the content when such compliance has been ensured.

Claims

1. A system for conducting a financial transaction in e-commerce on the internet which comprises:

a first object created by a seller and containing a plurality of files in respective electronic information formats, including a header file in clear text for display on the internet to solicit a buyer, an overhead file concealed to protect verification data, and with a content file concealed to protect a content being sold by the seller;

a second object created by a buyer and containing at least one file in an electronic information format, with said file of said second object containing a purchase solicitation; and

an overhead key for use by a transaction agency to expose said verification data of said overhead file to ensure there is a compliance of said purchase solicitation with said verification data before the transaction is completed.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said overhead file includes a revelation key for providing the buyer with access to said content file after said compliance has been ensured.

3. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said header file is an advertisement presented on the internet in clear text.

4. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said overhead file is concealed by being encrypted, and wherein said overhead key is a private part of a public-private key pair and is useable by the transaction agency to expose the overhead file in response to said purchase solicitation of the buyer.

5. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said overhead file is concealed by being encrypted and wherein said overhead key is a symmetric key established by prior arrangement between the transaction agency and the seller and useable by the transaction agency in response to said purchase solicitation of the buyer.

6. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said overhead file contains directions to a location of a revelation key for use by the buyer when accessing said content file after said compliance has been ensured.

7. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said content file is concealed by being encrypted and wherein a revelation key is a symmetric key and is useable by the buyer to access said content file after said compliance has been ensured.

8. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said content file is concealed by an obscuration.

9. A system as recited in claim 8 wherein a revelation key included in said overhead file contains instructions for removing said obscuration.

10. An object of electronic information for use by a seller when conducting a financial transaction in e-commerce on the internet which comprises:

a content file containing subject matter to be sold over the internet by the seller to a buyer, said content file being initially concealed from the buyer;

an overhead file containing verification data pertaining to the financial transaction, said overhead file being opened with an overhead key and used by a transaction agency, in response to a purchase solicitation from the buyer, to ensure a compliance of said purchase solicitation with said verification data; and

a revelation key for providing the buyer with access to said content file after said compliance has been ensured by the transaction agency.

11. An object as recited in claim 10 further comprising a header file in clear text for advertising said content file on the internet.

12. An object as recited in claim 11 wherein said header file, said overhead file and said content file are each respectively presented on the internet in an electronic information format.

13. An object as recited in claim 10 wherein said overhead key is a private part of a public-private key pair and is useable by the transaction agency in response to said purchase solicitation of the buyer.

14. An object as recited in claim 10 wherein said overhead file is concealed by being encrypted and wherein said overhead key is a symmetric key established by prior arrangement between the transaction agency and the seller and is useable by the transaction agency in response to said purchase solicitation of the buyer.

15. An object as recited in claim 10 wherein said revelation key is provided in said overhead file.

16. An object as recited in claim 10 wherein said overhead file contains directions to a location of said revelation key.

17. An object as recited in claim 12 wherein said content file is concealed by being encrypted and wherein said revelation key is a symmetric key useable by the buyer.

18. A method for conducting a financial transaction in e-commerce on the internet which comprises the steps of:

creating a first object prepared by a seller in an electronic information format, said first object containing a plurality of files, including a header file in clear text for display on the internet to solicit a buyer, an overhead file concealed to protect verification data, and a content file concealed to protect a content being sold by the seller;

employing a second object for use by a buyer, said second object containing a purchase solicitation file in an electronic information format; and

providing an overhead key for use by a transaction agency to expose said verification data in said overhead file to ensure there is a compliance of said purchase solicitation with said verification data.

19. A method as recited in claim 18 wherein said overhead file includes a revelation key for providing the buyer with access to said content file after said compliance has been ensured.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein said overhead key is a private part of a public-private key pair and said revelation key is a symmetric key.