Systems and methods for insuring data over the internet

• US 6,922,720 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2002
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Protogo Incorporated, Synesi Group Incorporated, TranSurety LLC
• Original Assignee: Portogo Incorporated
• Inventors: Cianciarulo, Krys, Weiseth, Thomas, Cardot, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): BAROT, BHARAT
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAROT, BHARAT
• Application Number:
  US10/094,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20020178083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 709/213, 709/216, 709/217, 709/218, 709/227, 709/237, 709/249, 705/35, 705/39, 705/51, 705/52, 705/53, 705/59, 705/4, 707/9, 707/10
• 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

Systems and methods are provided 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 (wireless application protocol), VOIP (voice-over IP), 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 instruction 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 further includes charging a fee to an appropriate account for the selected coverage type and amount.

Claims

1. A system for providing transmission-coverage for transmission of data from a first remote client to a second remote client over a communications network, the system comprising:

a computer server communicatively coupled to the first remote client and to the second remote client over the communications network, wherein the server includes;

a receiver that is operative to receive a request from the first remote client to cover transmission of a set of data between the first remote client and the second remote client, wherein the request includes data specifying a selected transmission-coverage type and a selected transmission-coverage amount for the transmission,

a charging mechanism that is operative, based on the request, to charge a transmission-coverage fee to an identified account for the selected transmission-coverage type having the selected transmission-coverage amount, and

a logging mechanism that is operative to log a status of the transmission into a logging data structure;

wherein the selected transmission-coverage type is bonding that provides a bonding coverage amount that is payable in the event the transmission fails.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the request includes data that indirectly selects the selected transmission-coverage type and the selected transmission-coverage amount for the transmission from a data structure that maintains a plurality of contractual relationships, each of which specifies a set of business rules for a given transmission.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the request includes data that directly specifies the selected transmission-coverage type and the selected transmission-coverage amount for the transmission.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the transmission is over an internet network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of data includes a streaming data set.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of data includes an electronic document.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is further operative to receive a delivery verification to the server, and to log the delivery verification of the transmission into the logging data structure.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is further operative to provide on-line, a website interface that receives input from the first remote client into a predefined set of data fields within one or more web pages to select the coverage type and the coverage amount for the transmission.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the input received from the first remote client defines a set of business rules for the transmission and is stored as a data structure that is correlated to the transmission in the logging data structure.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the input received from the first remote client defines a contractual relationship for the transmission and is stored as a data structure that is correlated to the transmission in the logging data structure.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is further operative to provide on-line, a website interface that receives input from the first remote client into a predefined set of data fields within one or more web pages to select one of a plurality of different coverage amounts for the transmission.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected transmission-coverage type includes a combination of two or more coverage types selected from a group consisting of insuring the transmission, bonding the transmission, and underwriting the transmission.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission of the set of data includes a plurality of subsets including a first subset and a second subset, and wherein the request includes data specifying a first transmission-coverage type for transmission of the first subset and a different second transmission-coverage type for transmission of the second subset.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission of the set of data includes a plurality of subsets including a first subset and a second subset, and wherein the request includes data specifying a first transmission-coverage amount for transmission of the first subset and a different second transmission-coverage amount for transmission of the second subset.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission of the set of data includes a plurality of subsets including a first subset and a second subset, and wherein the request includes data specifying a first transmission-coverage type for transmission of the first subset and a different second transmission-coverage type for transmission of the second subset, and wherein the request includes data specifying a first transmission-coverage amount for transmission of the first subset and a different second transmission-coverage amount for transmission of the second subset.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of remote clients including the first remote client and the second remote client.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a security transmission engine logically connected to the first client, wherein the engine encrypts the set of data.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the bonding coverage amount is payable only if the transmission was also mis-received.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the bonding coverage amount is payable only if the transmission was also intercepted by an unintended recipient.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the bonding coverage amount is payable only if the transmission was also tampered with by an unintended recipient.

21. A method comprising:

electronically receiving a request from a first remote computer client to cover transmission of a set of data between the first remote client and a second remote client over a communications network, wherein the request includes data specifying a selected transmission-coverage type and a selected transmission-coverage amount for the transmission,

charging with a network server, based on the request, a transmission-coverage fee to an identified account for the specified transmission-coverage type having the specified transmission-coverage amount, and

logging with the network server a status of the communication into a logging data structure;

wherein the selected transmission-coverage type is bonding that provides a bonding coverage amount that is payable in the event the transmission fails.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising, based on the request, indirectly selecting the specified transmission-coverage type and the specified transmission-coverage amount for the transmission from a data structure that maintains a plurality of contractual relationships, each of which specifies a set of business rules for a given transmission.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising, based on the request, directly specifying the specified transmission-coverage type and the specified transmission-coverage amount for the transmission.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the transmission is over an internet network.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the set of data includes a streaming data set.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the set of data includes an electronic document.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving delivery verification to the server, and logging the delivery verification of the transmission into the logging data structure.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing on-line, a website interface that receives input from the first remote client into a predefined set of data fields within one or more web pages to select the coverage type and the coverage amount for the transmission.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising receiving input from the first remote client that defines a set of business rules for the transmission and storing the input as a data structure that is correlated to the transmission in the logging data structure.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising receiving input from the first remote client that defines a contractual relationship for the transmission and storing the input as a data structure that is correlated to the transmission in the logging data structure.

31. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing on-line, a website interface that receives input from the first remote client into a predefined set of data fields within one or more web pages to select one of a plurality of different coverage amounts for the transmission.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein the specified transmission-coverage type includes a combination of two or more coverage types specified from a group consisting of insuring the transmission, bonding the transmission, and underwriting the transmission.

33. The method of claim 21, wherein the transmission of the set of data includes a plurality of subsets including a first subset and a second subset, and wherein the request includes data specifying a first transmission-coverage type for transmission of the first subset and a different second transmission-coverage type for transmission of the second subset.

34. The method of claim 21, wherein the transmission of the set of data includes a plurality of subsets including a first subset and a second subset, and wherein the request includes data specifying a first transmission-coverage amount for transmission of the first subset and a different second transmission-coverage amount for transmission of the second subset.

35. The method of claim 21, wherein the transmission of the set of data includes a plurality of subsets including a first subset and a second subset, and wherein the request includes data specifying a first transmission-coverage type for transmission of the first subset and a different second transmission-coverage type for transmission of the second subset, and wherein the request includes data specifying a first transmission-coverage amount for transmission of the first subset and a different second transmission-coverage amount for transmission of the second subset.

36. The method of claim 21, further comprising

electronically transmitting the request from the first remote computer client to a server;

and

electronically transmitting a transmission-completion status to the server for logging.

37. The method of claim 21, further comprising encrypting the set of data before a portion of the transmission.

38. The method of claim 21, further comprising

obtaining the set of data;

and

redundantly transmitting the set of data to the second remote client.

39. The method of claim 21, wherein the bonding coverage amount is payable only if the transmission was also mis-received.

40. The method of claim 21, wherein the bonding coverage amount is payable only if the transmission was also intercepted by an unintended recipient.

41. The method of claim 21, wherein the bonding coverage amount is payable only if the transmission was also tampered with by an unintended recipient.

42. An apparatus comprising:

means for electronically receiving a request from a first remote computer client to cover transmission of a set of data between the first remote client and a second remote client over a communications network, wherein the request includes data specifying a selected transmission-coverage type and a selected transmission-coverage amount for the transmission,

means for charging with a network server, based on the request, a transmission-coverage fee to an identified account for the specified transmission-coverage type having the specified transmission-coverage amount, and

means for logging with the network server a status of the communication into a logging data structures;

wherein the selected transmission-coverage type is bonding that provides a bonding coverage amount that is payable in the event the transmission fails.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising means for indirectly selecting the specified transmission-coverage type and the specified transmission-coverage amount for the transmission from a data structure that maintains a plurality of contractual relationships, each of which specifies a set of business rules for a given transmission.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising means for directly specifying the specified transmission-coverage type and the specified transmission-coverage amount for the transmission.

45. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the set of data includes a streaming data set.

46. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the set of data includes an electronic document.

47. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising means for to receiving a delivery verification, and means for automatically logging the delivery verification of the transmission into the logging data structure.

48. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the server is further operative to provide on-line, a website interface that receives input from the first remote client into a predefined set of data fields within one or more web pages to select the coverage type and the coverage amount for the transmission.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the input received from the first remote client defines a set of business rules for the transmission and is stored as a data structure that is correlated to the transmission in the logging data structure.

50. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the input received from the first remote client defines a contractual relationship for the transmission and is stored as a data structure that is correlated to the transmission in the logging data structure.

51. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the server is further operative to provide on-line, a website interface that receives input from the first remote client into a predefined set of data fields within one or more web pages to select one of a plurality of different coverage amounts for the transmission.

52. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising means for transmitting at least a portion of the transmission is over an internet network.

53. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising means for encrypting the set of data before a portion of the transmission.

54. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising means for obtaining and redundantly transmitting the set of data to the second remote client.

55. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the bonding coverage amount is payable only if the transmission was also mis-received.

56. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the bonding coverage amount is payable only if the transmission was also intercepted by an unintended recipient.

57. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the bonding coverage amount is payable only if the transmission was also tampered with by an unintended recipient.

58. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that cause a suitably programmed information-processing system to perform a method comprising:

electronically receiving a request from a first remote computer client to cover transmission of a set of data between the first remote client and a second remote client over a communications network, wherein the request includes data specifying a selected transmission-coverage type and a selected transmission-coverage amount for the transmission

charging with a network server, based on the request, a transmission-coverage fee to an identified account for the specified transmission-coverage type having the specified transmission-coverage amount, and

logging with the network server a status of the communication into a logging data structure wherein the selected transmission-coverage type is bonding that provides a bonding coverage amount that is payable in the event the transmission fails.

59. The medium of claim 58, wherein instructions stored on the medium further cause performance of the method to include indirectly selecting the specified transmission-coverage type and the specified transmission-coverage amount for the transmission from a data structure that maintains a plurality of contractual relationships, each of which specifies a set of business rules for a given transmission.

60. The medium of claim 58, wherein instructions stored on the medium further cause performance of the method to include directly specifying the specified transmission-coverage type and the specified transmission-coverage amount for the transmission.

61. The medium of claim 58, wherein instructions stored on the medium further cause performance of the method to include receiving a delivery verification to the server, and logging the delivery verification of the transmission into the logging data structure.

62. The medium of claim 58, wherein instructions stored on the medium further cause performance of the method to include providing on-line, a website interface that receives input from the first remote client into a predefined set of data fields within one or more web pages to select the coverage type and the coverage amount for the transmission.

63. The medium of claim 58, wherein medium further includes data that comprises a set of business rules for insuring the transmission.

64. The medium of claim 58, wherein medium further includes data that defines a contractual relationship for the transmission.