Method for facilitating a transaction between a merchant and a buyer

• US 7,647,278 B1
• Filed: 12/29/1999
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Romansky, Brian M., Foth, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fischer; Andrew J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): OBEID, MAMON A
• Application Number:
  US09/474,326
• Time in Patent Office: 3,667 Days
• Field of Search: 705/59
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3678 e-cash details, e.g. blinded, divisible or detecting double spending
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

A method includes inputting into the computer a digital content file of the merchant, the digital content file including a header with information related to purchasing a digital content product and the digital content product in encoded form. The computer reads the downloaded header and displays at least some of the information related to purchasing the digital content product while concurrently downloading the encoded digital content product into the computer.

Claims

1. A method for using a computer by a broker to encrypt digital content product files of a merchant that are hosted at a merchant web site, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting into the computer an identification of the digital content product files designated for encryption together with the web site location of the digital content product files and information required to access the digital content product files;

via the computer, connecting to the web site and accessing and encrypting the digital content product files designated for encryption; and

storing the encrypted digital content product files at the web site.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising inputting into the computer a location at the web site where each of the encrypted digital content product files are to be stored, and storing the encrypted digital content product files at the location.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising using the computer to create a buyer product file for each encrypted digital content product file, the buyer product file including the encrypted digital content product file and a header having information about the digital content product file for use by a buyer in making a decision on whether to purchase the digital content product.

4. A method for distributing from a first computer digital content products for purchase, the method comprising the steps of:

encrypting a first digital content product file;

statically storing the encrypted first digital content product file at the first computer;

storing a second digital content product file in unencrypted form at the first computer; and

inputting a request into the first computer for downloading from the first computer to a second computer at least one of the encrypted first digital content product file and the second digital content product file;

wherein at times when the request is for the encrypted first digital content product file downloading the encrypted first digital content file to the second computer, and at times when the request is for the second digital content product file dynamically encrypting the second digital content product file and sending the second digital content product file in encrypted form to the second computer while maintaining the storing of the second digital content product file in unencrypted form at the first computer.