Method for securing information relevant to a transaction
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of transferring funds from a first party to a second party, the method comprising:
- creating a variable authentication number (VAN) on a computer using first information and a secret key of the first party, the first information including an amount and information for identifying the first party or the second party, the VAN attesting to the authenticity of the first party and the first information;
creating an instrument by the first party for transferring funds to the second party, the instrument including the first information and the variable authentication number (VAN) and attaching the VAN to the instrument.
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Abstract
A transaction system is disclosed wherein, when a transaction, document or thing needs to be authenticated, information associated with one or more of the parties involved is coded together to produce a joint code. This joint code is then utilized to code information relevant to the transaction, document or record, in order to produce a variable authentication number (VAN) at the initiation of the transaction. This VAN is thereafter associated with the transaction and is recorded on the document or thing, along with the original information that was coded. During subsequent stages of the transaction, only parties capable of reconstructing the joint code will be able to uncode the VAN properly in order to re-derive the information. The joint code serves to authenticate the parties, and the comparison of the re-derived information against the information recorded on the document serves to authenticate the accuracy of that information.
280 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of transferring funds from a first party to a second party, the method comprising:
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creating a variable authentication number (VAN) on a computer using first information and a secret key of the first party, the first information including an amount and information for identifying the first party or the second party, the VAN attesting to the authenticity of the first party and the first information; creating an instrument by the first party for transferring funds to the second party, the instrument including the first information and the variable authentication number (VAN) and attaching the VAN to the instrument. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for using a payment instrument to make a payment, the payment instrument being originated by a payor and made payable to a payee, the method comprising:
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creating a variable authentication number (VAN) on a computer using payment information and a secret key of the payor, the payment information including an amount and information for identifying the payee, the VAN being usable for attesting to the authenticity of the payor and the payment information; and the payor using the payment information and the VAN to create the payment instrument, the payment instrument being used to make the payment. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A payment method, comprising:
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a payer obtaining a document containing document information, the document information being associated with a debt incurred by the payer or for goods or for services to be paid for or purchased by the payor; the payer creating a variable authentication number (VAN) on a computer using at least a portion of the document information, and a secret key of the payor, the document information including an amount, and information for identifying the payee, the VAN being used for attesting to the authenticity of the payor and document information; and the payor creating a payment instrument using the document information and appending the VAN to the payment instrument, the payment instrument being used to pay for the incurred debt or for the purchase of goods or services. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A funds transfer method comprising:
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a first party creating an instrument for transferring funds to a second party, the adequacy of the funds in the first party'"'"'s account being verified after the instrument is issued; using a computer to create a variable authentication number (VAN), the VAN being created using at least a secret key of the first party; and including the VAN with the instrument for subsequent use in attesting to the authenticity of the instrument.
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35. A funds transfer method comprising:
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an originator party creating an instrument for transferring funds to a recipient party, the instrument information comprising (i) a variable authentication number (VAN), and (ii) one or more pieces of payment information including an amount, information for identifying the recipient party or the originator party, a date, and a check control or serial number; creating an error detection code (EDC1) by coding one or more pieces of the payment information; and creating the VAN on a computer by coding the EDC1 using a secret key of the originator, the originator'"'"'s VAN being usable to determine the authenticity of the one or more pieces of payment information.
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Specification