Encrypted e-commerce product

• US 7,788,177 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: O Hastiner Svc LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Bible, Robert Jr., Burnett, Mark Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca; Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US10/371,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20040162782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,750 Days
• Field of Search: 705/30, 705/50, 705/51, 705/75
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A system for conducting a financial transaction in e-commerce on the internet includes objects prepared by a seller and a buyer. The seller'"'"'s object includes a clear text header file (advertisement), an encrypted overhead file which contains verification data pertaining to the financial transaction, and an encrypted content file containing the subject matter for sale by the seller. With a purchase solicitation from the buyer, an overhead key can be used by a transaction agency to ensure there is a compliance between the purchase solicitation and the verification data of the overhead (from seller'"'"'s object). Next a revelation key is provided to give the buyer access to the content when such compliance has been ensured.

Claims

1. A method for conducting a financial transaction on a computer network, the method comprising:

receiving a first object in an electronic information format at a first computer, wherein the first object comprises;

an overhead file including a first verification data wherein the overhead file is concealed to protect the first verification data; and

a purchase solicitation including a second verification data;

wherein the first object is created in part from a second object located on the computer network wherein the second object is in an electronic information format, the second object comprising;

a header file in clear text for display on the computer network;

the overhead file including the first verification data; and

a content file including content that is concealed;

wherein the overhead file including the first verification data of the second object is incorporated into the first object along with the purchase solicitation;

receiving an overhead key at the first computer for use in exposing the first verification data of the overhead file contained within the first object to ensure there is a compliance between the second verification data and the first verification data wherein the overhead key is a private part of a public-private key pair;

evaluating the first object by comparing the first verification data to the second verification data to ensure compliance between the purchase solicitation and the overhead file; and

providing access to the content file of the second object after compliance is ensured.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the overhead file comprises a symmetric revelation key.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the providing access comprises providing the symmetric revelation key.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the content file is concealed by being encrypted such that the symmetric revelation key is required to reveal the content and the providing access comprises providing the symmetric revelation key.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing access comprises providing instructions for accessing the concealed content file.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the content file is concealed by an obscuration.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the providing access comprises providing instructions for removing the obscuration.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the header file comprises an advertisement presented on the computer network in clear text.

9. The method claim 1 wherein the overhead file comprises a set of directions to a location of a revelation key.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the providing access comprises providing the set of directions.

11. A non-transitional tangible computer readable medium including instructions stored thereon, that in response to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform the instructions comprising:

instructions to receive a response to a first object available on a computing network, the first object comprising a plurality of files in electronic information formats, the plurality of files comprising;

a header file in clear text for display on the computer network;

an overhead file including verification data, the overhead file and the verification data concealed by being encrypted to protect the verification data;

a content file, the content file being concealed;

wherein the response to the first object is in the form a second object in an electronic information format, the second object including the overhead file and a purchase solicitation;

instructions to receive an overhead key, the overhead key being a private part of a public-private key pair for use in exposing the verification data of the overhead file in response to receiving the second object;

instructions to evaluate the second object to ensure compliance with the verification data of the first object; and

instructions to provide access to the content file.

12. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein the overhead file comprises a revelation key usable to gain access to the content file.

13. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein the content file is concealed by being encrypted.

14. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 13 wherein the revelation key comprises a symmetric key.

15. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein the header file is available for viewing on the computer network in clear text.

16. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein the overhead file is concealed by being encrypted.

17. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein the overhead file comprises directions to a location of a revelation key.

18. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein the content file is concealed by an obscuration.

19. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 18 wherein the overhead file comprises a revelation key comprising instructions to remove the obscuration.

20. A method for conducting a transaction on a computer network, the method comprising:

receiving a first object in an electronic information format at a first computer, wherein the first object comprises;

an overhead file including a first verification data wherein the overhead file is concealed to protect the first verification data; and

a purchase solicitation including a second verification data;

wherein the first object is created in part from a second object located on the computer network wherein the second object is in an electronic information format, the second object comprising;

a header file in clear text for display on the computer network;

the overhead file including the first verification data; and

a content file including content that is concealed;

wherein the overhead file including the first verification data of the second object is incorporated into the first object along with the purchase solicitation;

receiving an overhead key at the first computer for use in exposing the first verification data of the overhead file contained within the first object to ensure there is a compliance between the second verification data and the first verification data wherein the overhead key is a symmetric key;

evaluating the first object by comparing the first verification data to the second verification data to ensure compliance between the purchase solicitation and the overhead file; and

providing access to the content file of the second object after compliance is ensured.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the overhead file comprises a symmetric revelation key.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the providing access comprises providing the symmetric revelation key.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the content file is concealed by being encrypted such that the symmetric revelation key is required to reveal the content and the providing access comprises providing the symmetric revelation key.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the providing access comprises providing instructions for accessing the concealed content file.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein the content file is concealed by an obscuration.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the providing access comprises providing instructions for removing the obscuration.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein the header file comprises an advertisement presented on the computer network in clear text.

28. The method claim 20 wherein the overhead file comprises a set of directions to a location of a revelation key.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the providing access comprises providing the set of directions.

30. A non-transitional tangible computer readable medium including instructions stored thereon, that in response to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform the instructions comprising:

instructions to receive a response to a first object available on a computing network, the first object comprising a plurality of files in electronic information formats, the plurality of files comprising;

a header file in clear text for display on the computer network;

an overhead file including verification data, the overhead file and the verification data concealed by being encrypted to protect the verification data;

a content file, the content file being concealed;

wherein the response to the first object is in the form a second object in an electronic information format, the second object including the overhead file and a purchase solicitation;

instructions to receive an overhead key, the overhead key being a symmetric key for use in exposing the verification data of the overhead file in response to receiving the second object;

instructions to evaluate the second object to ensure compliance with the verification data of the first object; and

instructions to provide access to the content file.

31. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 30 wherein the overhead file comprises a revelation key usable to gain access to the content file.

32. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 31 wherein the content file is concealed by being encrypted.

33. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 32 wherein the revelation key comprises a symmetric key.

34. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 30 wherein the header file is available for viewing on the computer network in clear text.

35. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 30 wherein the overhead file is concealed by being encrypted.

36. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 30 wherein the overhead file comprises directions to a location of a revelation key.

37. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 30 wherein the content file is concealed by an obscuration.

38. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 37 wherein the overhead file comprises a revelation key comprising instructions to remove the obscuration.

39. A method for conducting a transaction on a computer network, the method comprising:

creating a first object in an electronic information format at a first computer, wherein the first object comprises;

a header file for display on the computer network;

an overhead file including a first verification data wherein the overhead file is concealed to protect the first verification data;

a content file including content that is concealed;

wherein the overhead file is configured to be received at a second computer, the overhead file further configured to be incorporated into a second object located on the computer network;

wherein the second object comprises;

the overhead file including the first verification data; and

a purchase solicitation including a second verification data;

wherein the second object is configured to be received at a third computer, wherein the third computer comprises an overhead key;

wherein the overhead key is configured for use in exposing the first verification data at the third computer to ensure there is compliance between the first verification data and the second verification data;

wherein the third computer is configured to evaluate the second object by comparing the first verification data of the overhead file to the second verification data of the purchase solicitation to ensure compliance between the overhead file and the purchase solicitation;

wherein the third computer is configured to provide access the content file of the first object after compliance is ensured.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the overhead key is a private part of a public-private key pair.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the overhead key is a symmetric key.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the overhead file comprises a symmetric revelation key usable to gain access to the content file.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the content file is concealed by being encrypted such that the symmetric revelation key is required to reveal the content.

44. The method of claim 39, wherein the content file is concealed by an obscuration.

45. The method of claim 39 wherein the overhead file comprises a set of directions to a location of a revelation key.