Method and apparatus for secured electronic commerce

• US 7,043,025 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2005
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert L. Alldredge
• Original Assignee: Robert L. Alldredge
• Inventors: Alldredge, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moise, Emmanuel L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Callahan, Paul
• Application Number:
  US10/905,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20050097365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 380/283, 380/286, 705 67- 69, 705/71, 705/74, 705/75, 705/77, 705/35, 705/667
• US Class Current: 380/283
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/06 Private payment circuits, e.g. involving electronic currency used among participants of a common payment scheme
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/26 Debit schemes, e.g. "pay now"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/29 characterised by micropayments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3676 Balancing accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3678 e-cash details, e.g. blinded, divisible or detecting double spending
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3823 combining multiple encryption tools for a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/383 Anonymous user system
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/42 Anonymization, e.g. involving pseudonyms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 : for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/16 : the keys or algorithms being changed during operation

Abstract

A user anonymously acquires a first sequence of encryption key material. An encryption server, having a second sequence complementary to the first sequence, receives and forwards encrypted messages and monitors utilization of encryption key material by the user. As the key material is used, the server adjusts user accounts to exhaust the first sequence. Thus, the first sequence provides for secure, anonymous communication and, correspondingly, can serve as a payment media for conducting electronic transactions.

Claims

1. A method for conducting private secure electronic commerce comprising the steps of:

providing a first server that is an application service provider suited to provide gambling services;

providing to an anonymous first user, in exchange for a payment, a first sequence of encryption key material, an identifier associated with said first sequence, connection instructions for connecting to said first server, and encryption instructions for encrypting and decrypting data using the first sequence;

providing to the first server said identifier and a second sequence of encryption key material suitable for decrypting data that is encrypted with the first sequence and for encrypting data that can be decrypted with the first sequence;

establishing a first user account accessible to the first server, wherein said first user account includes the identifier and a first user value parameter that is proportional to said payment;

providing encrypted data communications in the form of gambling between said first user and the first server;

adjusting said first user value parameter in response to said first user winning or losing at said gambling; and

investing gambling loses by said first user in an investment payable to the first user at a predetermined future date.