Methods and Apparatus for Securing and Providing Coverage for Transmission Data

• US 20080021979A1
• Filed: 05/30/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TranSurety LLC
• Original Assignee: TranSurety LLC
• Inventors: Cianciarulo, Krys, Weiseth, Thomas, Cardot, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,555,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3823 combining multiple encryption tools for a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/60 Business processes related to postal services shipping G06Q10/083; franking apparatus G07B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods which afford a technical application for insuring, bonding, and underwriting a transmission of a data set, streaming data, and/or document over the Internet through TCP/IP and all other electronic media such as WAP, VOIP, fiber optic channels, microwave channels, and through standard electrical switches, electrical outlets and power lines. The present invention includes a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions to cause a system perform a method for insuring, bonding, and/or underwriting data transmission. The method includes enabling a first remote client coupled to a communications network to insure, bond, and/or underwrite a transmission of an electronic data set, streaming data, and/or document, with a selected coverage type for a selected coverage amount, from the first remote client to one or more second remote clients. The method includes charging a fee to an appropriate account for the selected coverage type and amount.

Claims

1. A computerized method comprising:

at a first remote client, applying a security measure that includes encryption of a data set to generate a transmission data set;

electronically transmitting the transmission data set over a communications network from the first remote client to a second remote client, wherein the first remote client is connected to the communications network, and wherein the second remote client is connected to the communications network;

electronically transmitting the transmission data set over the communications network from the first remote client to a system server network, wherein the system server network includes an archive server connected to the communications network, and storing a copy of the transmission data set onto the archive server;

if the second remote client is unable to open the transmission data set initially, then providing access to the stored copy of the transmission data set on the archive server;

verifying whether or not the transmission data set was successfully delivered; and

providing data transmission coverage, wherein the providing of the data transmission coverage includes providing a transmission coverage amount that conditionally becomes payable based on results of the verifying.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying includes using a return receipt.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronically transmitting the transmission data set over the communications network from the first remote client to the second remote client includes attempting a resend transmission for each one of a plurality of failed transmissions to the second remote client.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications network includes an internet, and wherein the electronically transmitting the transmission data set from the first remote client to the second remote client includes transmitting over the internet, and wherein the electronically transmitting the transmission data set from the first remote client to the system server network includes transmitting over the internet

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying of the security measure includes compressing the data set to generate the transmission data set.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying of the security measure includes using a security transmission engine.

35. The method of claim 6, wherein the applying of the securing measure includes using a compression engine.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronically transmitting the transmission data set over the communications network from the first remote client to the second remote client includes allowing a user at the first remote client to select how long the transmission data set may reside at the second remote client.

37. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a remote client program at the first remote client, wherein the remote client program provides a user at the first remote client with advice as to why the user may want to secure the data set.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising tailoring the advice according to a class associated with the data set.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising allowing the user at the first remote client, by activating a data field on an electronic form contained in the remote client program, to request that the data set be secured.

5. (canceled)

7-33. -33. (canceled)

40. An apparatus comprising:

a security module operatively coupled to a first remote client connected to a communications network, wherein the security module is configured to apply a security measure that includes encryption of a data set to generate a transmission data set;

a system server network, wherein the system server network includes an archive server, and wherein the system server network is connected to the communications network;

a transmission unit operatively coupled to the first remote client, wherein the transmission unit is configured to electronically transmit the transmission data set over the communications network from the first remote client to a second remote client connected to the communications network, and wherein the transmission unit is configured to electronically transmit the transmission data set over the communications network from the first remote client to the system server network;

a storage device operatively coupled to the archive server, wherein the storage device is configured to store a copy of the transmission data set, and wherein the archive server is configured to grant access to the stored transmission data set if the second remote client is unable to open the transmission data set initially;

a verifier unit, wherein the verifier unit is configured to verify whether or not the transmission data set was successfully delivered, and wherein the verifier unit is connected to the communications network; and

a coverage module, wherein the coverage module is configured to provide data transmission coverage, and wherein the data transmission coverage conditionally becomes payable based on results generated by the verifier unit.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the verifier unit uses a return receipt.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the transmission unit is configured to attempt a resend transmission for each one of a plurality of failed transmissions to the second remote client.

43. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the communications network includes an internet, and wherein the transmission unit is configured to transmit the transmission data set from the first remote client to the second remote client over the internet, and wherein the transmission unit is configured to transmit the transmission data set from the first remote client to the system server network over the internet.

44. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the security module includes a security transmission engine.

45. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the security module is configured to compress the data set to generate the transmission data set.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the security module includes a compression engine.

47. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising a selector operatively coupled to the first remote client that is configured to allow a user at the first remote client to select how long the transmission data set may reside at the second remote client.

48. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising a remote client program operatively coupled to the first remote client, wherein the remote client program is configured to provide a user at the first remote client with advice as to why the user may want to secure the data set.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the remote client program is configured to tailor the advice according to a class associated with the data set.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the remote client program is configured to allow the user at the first remote client, by activating a data field on an electronic form contained in the remote client program, to request that the data set be secured.

51. An apparatus comprising:

means for applying a security measure at a first remote client, wherein the security measure includes encryption of a data set to generate a transmission data set;

means for electronically transmitting the transmission data set over a communications network from the first remote client to a second remote client, wherein the first remote client is connected to the communications network, and wherein the second remote client is connected to the communications network;

means for electronically transmitting the transmission data set over the communications network from the first remote client to a system server network, wherein the system server network includes an archive server connected to the communications network, and means for storing a copy of the transmission data set onto the archive server;

means for providing access to the stored copy of the transmission data set on the archive server if the second remote client is unable to open the transmission data set initially;

means for verifying whether or not the transmission data set was successfully delivered; and

means for providing data transmission coverage, wherein the means for the providing of the data transmission coverage includes means for providing a transmission coverage amount that conditionally becomes payable based on results of the means for verifying.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the means for verifying includes means for providing a return receipt.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the means for electronically transmitting the transmission data set over the communications network from the first remote client to the second remote client includes means for attempting a resend transmission for each one of a plurality of failed transmissions to the second remote client.

54. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the communications network includes an internet, and wherein the means for electronically transmitting the transmission data set from the first remote client to the second remote client includes means for transmitting over the internet, and wherein the means for electronically transmitting the transmission data set from the first remote client to the system server network includes means for transmitting over the internet.

55. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the means for applying the security measure includes a security transmission engine.

56. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the means for applying the security measure includes means for compressing the data set to generate the transmission data set.

57. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the means for applying the securing measure includes a compression engine.

58. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the means for electronically transmitting the transmission data set over the communications network from the first remote client to the second remote client includes means for allowing a user at the first remote client to select how long the transmission data set may reside at the second remote client.

59. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising a remote client program at the first remote client, wherein the remote client program includes means for providing a user at the first remote client with advice as to why the user may want to secure the data set.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the remote client program includes means for tailoring the advice according to a class associated with the data set.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the remote client program includes means for allowing the user at the first remote client, by activating a data field on an electronic form contained in the remote client program, to request that the data set be secured.