Methods and systems for establishing an electronic account for a customer

• US 7,711,950 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Tremaine, Samuel R., Orbke, Wayne H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dada; Beemnet W
• Application Number:
  US09/809,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20020059430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,336 Days
• Field of Search: 713/155, 713/156, 713200-201, 713/168, 713/176, 705/35, 705 73- 76, 705/1, 705/51, 705/405, 705/406, 707/1, 707/9
• US Class Current: 713/155
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• 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 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 : by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols

Abstract

Registration information is sent form a customer to a registration system over a network. The registration system creates an electronic account for the customer and facilitates the validation of the customer'"'"'s identity. When the customer'"'"'s identity is validated, the registration system activates the electronic account. The electronic account includes a unique electronic account number, a physical address of the customer, and an electronic address of the customer.

Claims

1. A method for registering an electronic account over a network, comprising the steps of:

receiving registration information from a user at a registration system via the network;

retrieving a physical address for the user from an address database based on the registration information;

transmitting an identification verification form, as part of a physical mailpiece, from the registration system to the user requesting identification verification information;

validating the identification verification form and the identification verification information at a registration office;

transmitting validated identification verification information from the registration office to the registration system;

establishing the electronic account for the user, the electronic account comprising a customer name database containing the registration information;

storing the physical address for the user in a customer address database; and

associating the customer address database with the electronic account and the customer name database such that a mailpiece addressed to the physical address can be sent to the electronic account or a mailpiece addressed to the electronic account can be sent to the physical address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification verification form is a United States Postal Service Identity Validation Form.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the United States Postal Service Identity Validation Form contains a time limit for validation.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the United States Postal Service Identity Validation Form contains a listing of a United States Post Office.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the United States Postal Service Identity Validation Form contains an electronic address for the electronic account.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the United States Postal Service Identity Validation Form contains a list of identity validation documents.

7. The method of claims 6, wherein the list of identity validation documents contains at least one of a birth certificate, a driver'"'"'s license, a passport, and a utility bill.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the United States Postal Service Identity Validation Form contains a bar code.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the United States Postal Service Identity Validation Form contains the physical address of the user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the registration office is a United States Post Office.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting a request for an electronic certificate from the user to the registration system over the network.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

receiving the request for an electronic certificate at the registration system over the network; and

transmitting the electronic certificate from the registration system to the user over the network.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the identification verification form contains a listing of the United States Post Office that is closest geographically to the physical address of the user.

14. A method for registering an electronic account over a network, comprising the steps of:

receiving registration information at a registration system via the network;

retrieving a physical address for the user from an address database based on the registration information;

transmitting a confirmation letter containing an identification verification form, as part of a physical mailpiece, from the registration system to the user;

validating the user at a registration office by physically identifying the user;

transmitting validated identification verification information from the registration office to the registration system using the identification verification form;

establishing the electronic account for the user, the electronic account comprising a customer name database containing the registration information;

storing the physical address for the user in a customer address database; and

associating the customer address database with the electronic account and the customer name database such that a mailpiece addressed to the physical address can be sent to the electronic account or a mailpiece addressed to the electronic account can be sent to the physical address.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the validating step further includes the substep of:

physically identifying the user by examining at least one identification document of the user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the identification verification form lists the at least one identification document.

17. A method for registering an electronic account over a network, comprising the steps of:

receiving registration information at a registration system via the network;

storing the registration information in a database;

retrieving a physical address of the user from an address database using the registration information;

generating, by a verification form generator, an identification verification form using the physical address and the registration information;

sending the identification verification form, as part of a physical mailpiece, to the user at the physical address;

notifying a confirmation host, by the verification form generator, when the identification verification form has been sent;

validating the identification verification form by the user at a registration office;

transmitting validated identification verification information from the registration office to the confirmation host;

retrieving the validated identification verification information at the registration system from the confirmation host to establish the electronic account for the user, the electronic account for the user comprising a customer name database containing the registration information;

storing the physical address of the user in a customer address database; and

associating the customer address database with the electronic account and the customer name database such that a mailpiece addressed to the physical address can be sent to the electronic account or a mailpiece addressed to the electronic account can be sent to the physical address.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

requesting, by the registration system, an electronic certificate for the electronic account from a certificate authority;

receiving the electronic certificate by the registration system; and

linking the electronic certificate to the electronic account.

19. A method for initiating an electronic account for a user, comprising the steps of:

receiving, from a network server, user information including a request to initiate the electronic account;

creating an entry in a customer name database, the entry including the user information;

retrieving a physical address of the user from an address database based on the user information;

sending a validation form, as part of a physical mailpiece, to the user at the physical address;

receiving a validation confirmation indicating that the user has been validated using the validation form;

activating the electronic account in response to the validation confirmation;

storing the physical address of the user in a customer address database; and

associating the customer address database with the electronic account and the customer name database such that a mailpiece addressed to the physical address can be sent to the electronic account or a mailpiece addressed to the electronic account can be sent to the physical address.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the activating step further comprises the substeps of:

obtaining an electronic certificate for the electronic account based on the user information; and

sending the electronic certificate to the user via the network.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the retrieving step further comprises the substep of:

sending a query containing the user information to the address database;

receiving an address key corresponding to the physical address of the user in the address database, the physical address containing standardized address information; and

using the address key to obtain updated physical address data from the address database.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the database is a United States Postal Service registration database.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the address database is a United States Postal Service address database.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the retrieving step is performed using United States Postal Service Address Matching Engine DP/+4 System Software.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the obtaining step occurs via a United States Postal Service Digital Certificate Authority.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the receiving step further includes the substep of:

receiving the validation confirmation from the user.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the receiving step further includes the substep of:

receiving the validation confirmation from a identity validation clerk.

28. A system for registering an electronic account over a network, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions that are executed by the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving registration information from a user at a registration system via the network;

retrieving a physical address for the user from an address database based on the registration information;

transmitting an identification verification form, as part of a physical mailpiece, from the registration system to the user requesting identification verification information;

validating the identification verification form and the identification verification information at a registration office;

transmitting validated identification verification information from the registration office to the registration system;

establishing the electronic account for the user, the electronic account comprising a customer name database containing the registration information;

storing the physical address for the user in a customer address database; and

associating the customer address database with the electronic account and the customer name database such that a mailpiece addressed to the physical address can be sent to the electronic account or a mailpiece addressed to the electronic account can be sent to the physical address.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the identification verification form is a United States Postal Service Identity Validation Form.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the United States Postal Service Identity Validation Form contains a time limit for validation.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the United States Postal Service Identity Validation Form contains a listing of a United States Post Office.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the United States Postal Service Identity Validation Form contains an electronic address for the electronic account.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the United States Postal Service Identity Validation Form contains a list of identity validation documents.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the list of identity validation documents contains at least one of a birth certificate, a driver'"'"'s license, a passport, and a utility bill.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein the United States Postal Service Identity Validation Form contains a bar code.

36. The system of claim 29, wherein the United States Postal Service Identity Validation Form contains the physical address of the user.

37. The system of claim 28, wherein the registration office is a United States Post Office.

38. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

transmitting a request for an electronic certificate from the user to the registration system over the network.

39. The system of claim 38, further comprising:

receiving the request for an electronic certificate at the registration system over the network; and

transmitting the electronic certificate from the registration system to the user over the network.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the identification verification form contains a listing of the United States Post Office that is closest geographically to the physical address of the user.

41. A system for registering an electronic account over a network, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions that are executed by the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving registration information from a user at a registration system via the network;

retrieving a physical address for the user from an address database based on the registration information;

transmitting a confirmation letter containing an identification verification form, as part of a physical mailpiece, from the registration system to the user;

validating the user at a registration office by physically identifying the user;

transmitting validated identification verification information from the registration office to the registration system using the identification verification form;

establishing the electronic account for the user, the electronic account comprising a customer name database containing the registration information;

storing the physical address for the user in a customer address database; and

associating the customer address database with the electronic account and the customer name database such that a mailpiece addressed to the physical address can be sent to the electronic account or a mailpiece addressed to the electronic account can be sent to the physical address.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the validating further includes:

physically identifying the user by examining at least one identification document of the user.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the identification verification form lists the at least one identification document.

44. A system for registering an electronic account over a network, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions that are executed by the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving registration information from a user at a registration system via the network;

storing the registration information in a customer name database;

retrieving a physical address of the user from an address database using the registration information;

generating an identification verification form using the physical address and the registration information;

sending the identification verification form, as part of a physical mailpiece, to the user at the physical address;

notifying a confirmation host, by the verification form generator, when the identification verification form has been sent;

validating the identification verification form by the user at a registration office;

transmitting validated identification verification information from the registration office to the confirmation host;

retrieving the validated identification verification information at the registration system from the confirmation host to establish the electronic account for the user;

storing the physical address of the user in a customer address database; and

associating the customer address database with the electronic account and the customer name database such that a mailpiece addressed to the physical address can be sent to the electronic account or a mailpiece addressed to the electronic account can be sent to the physical address.

45. The system of claim 44, further comprising:

requesting an electronic certificate for the electronic account from a certificate authority;

receiving the electronic certificate by the registration system; and

linking the electronic certificate to the electronic account.

46. A system for initiating an electronic account for a user, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions that are executed by the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving from a network server, user information and a request to initiate the electronic account;

creating an entry in a customer name database, the entry including the user information;

retrieving a physical address of the user from an address database based on the user information;

sending a validation form, as part of a physical mailpiece, to the user at the physical address;

receiving a validation confirmation indicating that the user has been validated using the validation form;

activating the electronic account in response to the validation confirmation;

storing the physical address of the user in a customer address database; and

associating the customer address database with the electronic account and the customer name database such that a mail piece addressed to the physical address can be sent to the electronic account or a mailpiece addressed to the electronic account can be sent to the physical address.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the activating further comprises:

obtaining an electronic certificate for the electronic account based on the user information; and

sending the electronic certificate to the user via the network.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein the retrieving further comprises:

sending a query containing the user information to the address database;

receiving an address key corresponding to the physical address of the user in the address database, the physical address containing standardized address information; and

using the address key to obtain updated physical address data from the address database.

49. The system of claim 46, wherein the customer name database is a United States Postal Service registration database.

50. The system of claim 46, wherein the address database is a United States Postal Service address database.

51. The system of claim 46, wherein the retrieving uses United States Postal Service Address Matching Engine DP/+4 System Software.

52. The system of claim 47, wherein the obtaining occurs via a United States Postal Service Digital Certificate Authority.

53. The system of claim 46, wherein the confirmation receiving further includes:

receiving the validation confirmation from the user.

54. The method of claim 46, wherein the confirmation receiving further includes:

receiving the validation confirmation from a identity validation clerk.

55. A computer readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for registering an electronic account over a network, the computer readable code comprising:

a registration receiving module configured to receive registration information at a registration system via the network;

a retrieving module configured to retrieve a physical address for the user from an address database based on the registration information;

a form transmitting module configured to transmit an identification verification form, as part of a physical mailpiece, from the registration system to the user requesting identification verification information;

a validating module configured to validate the identification verification form and the identification verification information at a registration office;

a verification transmitting module configured to transmit validated identification verification information from the registration office to the registration system;

an establishing module configured to establish the electronic account for the user comprising a customer name database containing the registration information;

a storing module configured to store the physical address for the user in a customer address database; and

an associating module configured to associate the customer address database with the electronic account and the customer name database such that a mailpiece addressed to the physical address can be sent to the electronic account or a mailpiece addressed to the electronic account can be sent to the physical address.

56. A computer readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for registering an electronic account over a network, the computer readable code comprising:

a registration receiving module configured to receive registration information at a registration system via the network;

a retrieving module configured to retrieve a physical address for the user from an address database based on the registration information;

a letter transmitting module configured to transmit a confirmation letter containing an identification verification form, as part of a physical mailpiece, from the registration system to the user;

a validating module configured to validate the user at a registration office by physically identifying the user;

a verification transmitting module configured to transmit validated identification verification information from the registration office to the registration system using the identification verification form;

an establishing module configured to establish the electronic account for the user comprising a customer name database containing the registration information;

a storing module configured to store the physical address for the user in a customer address database; and

an associating module configured to associate the customer address database with the electronic account and the customer name database such that a mailpiece addressed to the physical address can be sent to the electronic account or a mailpiece addressed to the electronic account can be sent to the physical address.

57. A computer readable medium with computer readable code embodied therein for registering an electronic account over a network, the computer readable code comprising:

a registration receiving module configured to receive registration information at a registration system via the network;

a storing module configured to store the registration information in a customer name database;

an address retrieving module configured to retrieve a physical address of the user from an address database using the registration information;

a generating module configured to generate an identification verification form using the physical address and the registration information;

a sending module configured to send the identification verification form, as part of a physical mailpiece, to the user at the physical address;

a notifying module configured to notify a confirmation host, by the verification form generator, when the identification verification form has been sent;

a validating module configured to validate the identification verification form by the user at a registration office;

a verification transmitting module configured to transmit validated identification verification information from the registration office to the confirmation host;

a verification retrieving module configured to retrieve the validated identification verification information at the registration system from the confirmation host to establish the electronic account for the user;

a storing module configured to store the physical address of the user in a customer address database; and

an association module configured to associate the customer address database with the electronic account and the customer name database such that a mailpiece addressed to the physical address can be sent to the electronic account or a mailpiece addressed to the electronic account can be sent to the physical address.

58. A computer readable medium with computer readable code embodied therein for initiating an electronic account for a user, the computer readable code comprising:

an information receiving module configured to receive user information and a request to initiate the electronic account;

a creating module configured to create an entry in a customer name database, the entry including the user information;

a retrieving module configured to retrieve a physical address of the user from an address database based on the user information;

a sending module configured to send a validation form, as part of a physical mailpiece, to the user at the physical address;

a validation receiving module configured to receive a validation confirmation indicating that the user has been validated using the validation form;

an activating module configured to activate the electronic account in response to the validation confirmation;

a storing module configured to store the physical address of the user in a customer address database; and

an associating module configured to associate the customer address database with the electronic account and the customer name database such that a mailpiece addressed to the physical address can be sent to the electronic account or a mailpiece addressed to the electronic account can be sent to the physical address.

59. A system for registering an electronic account over a network, comprising:

means for transmitting registration information from a user to a registration system over the network;

means for receiving the registration information at the registration system over the network;

means for retrieving a physical address for the user from an address database based on the registration information;

means for transmitting an identification verification form, as part of a physical mailpiece, from the registration system to the user requesting identification verification information;

means for validating the identification verification form and the identification verification information at a registration office;

means for transmitting validated identification verification information from the registration office to the registration system;

means for establishing the electronic account for the user, the electronic account comprising a customer name database containing the registration information;

means for storing the physical address for the user in a customer address database; and

means for associating the customer address database with the electronic account and the customer name database such that a mailpiece addressed to the physical address can be sent to the electronic account or a mailpiece addressed to the electronic account can be sent to the physical address.

60. A system for registering an electronic account over a network, comprising:

means for transmitting registration information from a user to a registration system over the network;

means for receiving the registration information at the registration system over the network;

means for retrieving a physical address for the user from an address database based on the registration information;

means for transmitting a confirmation letter containing an identification verification form, as part of a physical mailpiece, from the registration system to the user;

means for validating the user at a registration office by physically identifying the user;

means for transmitting validated identification verification information from the registration office to the registration system using the identification verification form;

means for establishing the electronic account for the user, the electronic account comprising a customer name database containing the registration information;

means for storing the physical address for the user in a customer address database; and

means for associating the customer address database with the electronic account and the customer name database such that a mailpiece addressed to the physical address can be sent to the electronic account or a mailpiece addressed to the electronic account can be sent to the physical address.

61. A system for registering an electronic account over a network, comprising:

means for transmitting registration information from a user to a registration system over the network;

means for receiving the registration information at the registration system over the network;

means for storing the registration information in a customer name database;

means for retrieving a physical address of the user from an address database using the registration information;

means for generating, by a verification form generator, an identification verification form using the physical address and the registration information;

means for sending the identification verification form, as part of a physical mailpiece, to the user at the physical address;

means for notifying a confirmation host, by the verification form generator, when the identification verification form has been sent;

means for validating the identification verification form by the user at a registration office;

means for transmitting validated identification verification information from the registration office to the confirmation host;

means for retrieving the validated identification verification information at the registration system from the confirmation host to establish the electronic account for the user;

means for storing the physical address of the user in a customer address database; and

means for associating the customer address database with the electronic account and the customer name database such that a mail piece addressed to the physical address can be sent to the electronic account or a mailpiece addressed to the electronic account can be sent to the physical address.

62. A system for initiating an electronic account for a user, comprising:

means for receiving, from a network server, user information and a request to initiate the electronic account;

means for creating an entry in a customer name database, the entry including the user information;

means for retrieving a physical address of the user from an address database based on the user information;

means for sending a validation form, as part of a physical mailpiece, to the user at the physical address;

means for receiving a validation confirmation indicating that the user has been validated using the validation form;

means for activating the electronic account in response to the validation confirmation;

means for storing the physical address of the user in a customer address database; and

means for associating the customer address database with the electronic account and the customer name database such that a mailpiece addressed to the physical address can be sent to the electronic account or a mailpiece addressed to the electronic account can be sent to the physical address.