Systems and methods for secure and authentic electronic collaboration

• US 8,266,443 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Privacydatasystems LLC
• Original Assignee: Privacydatasystems LLC
• Inventors: Errico, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Yalew, Fikremariam A
• Application Number:
  US12/572,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 713/186
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0464 using hop-by-hop encryption, i.e. wherein an intermediate entity decrypts the information and re-encrypts it before forwarding it
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/168 above the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for secure and authentic electronic collaboration between a plurality of users using a combination of biometric security, a separate and secure network infrastructure, management processes, encrypted electronic storage, and collaborative templates. In an exemplary embodiment, an online collaboration system includes a server including a network interface connected to the Internet, a data store including electronic data storage, and a processor, wherein each of the network interface, the data store and the processor are communicatively coupled, and wherein the network interface, the data store and the processor are collectively configured to: biometrically authenticate a plurality of users; and enable online collaboration between the plurality of users.

Claims

1. An online collaboration system, comprising:

a server comprising a network interface connected to the Internet, a data store comprising electronic data storage, and a processor, wherein each of the network interface, the data store and the processor are communicatively coupled, and wherein the network interface, the data store and the processor are collectively configured to;

biometrically authenticate a plurality of users avoiding transmission or storage of a user'"'"'s biometric information; and

enable online collaboration between the plurality of users, wherein each of the plurality of users communicates to the server through a secure connection over the Internet, wherein the secure connection over the Internet comprises a Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) connection, and wherein each of the plurality of users communicates to the server to perform the online collaboration therebetween;

wherein to biometrically authenticate a user of the plurality of users, the network interface, the data store and the processor are collectively configured to;

send software code to a device associated with the user;

scan a fingerprint of the user at the device;

create a numerical index of the fingerprint responsive to the scan of the fingerprint to form a public key;

receive the public key from the device;

authenticate the public key with a corresponding private key in an authentication database; and

register the user for biometric authentication, wherein to register comprises capturing a fingerprint scan of the user and storing a private key in the authentication database responsive to the fingerprint scan.

2. The online collaboration system of claim 1, wherein the network interface, the data store and the processor are collectively further configured to:

display which of the plurality of users are currently in the online collaboration; and

provide communication between any of the plurality of users currently in the online collaboration responsive to a request.

3. The online collaboration system of claim 1, wherein the online collaboration comprises a sharing of files comprising any of text, video, audio, file attachments, calendars, contact lists, memos, to do lists, schedules, action item lists, announcements, and task lists between the plurality of users.

4. The online collaboration system of claim 3, wherein the files are stored in the data store and encrypted with one of Triple Data Encryption Standard (T-DES) and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption.

5. The online collaboration system of claim 1, wherein the data store comprises a plurality of templates for the online collaboration.

6. The online collaboration system of claim 1, wherein the network interface, the data store and the processor are collectively further configured to:

enable a user of the plurality of users to only post files to the online collaboration without biometric authentication.

7. The online collaboration system of claim 1, wherein the network interface, the data store and the processor are collectively further configured to:

notify each of the plurality of users through an electronic package comprising information on joining the online collaboration, wherein the electronic package is stored in the data store and accessed through a secure connection.

8. An online collaboration method, comprising:

receiving a selection of a template from a plurality of templates for an online collaboration;

receiving a list of a plurality of users for the online collaboration;

biometrically authenticating each of the plurality of users with a computer prior to participation in the online collaboration avoiding transmission or storage of a user'"'"'s biometric information;

communicating with each of the plurality of users through a secure connection over the Internet for the online collaboration, wherein the secure connection over the Internet comprises a Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) connection, wherein each of the plurality of users communicates to a server to perform the online collaboration therebetween;

wherein the biometrically authenticating comprises;

sending software code to a device associated with a user of the plurality of users;

scanning a fingerprint of the user at the device;

creating a numerical index of the fingerprint responsive to the scan of the fingerprint to form a public key;

receiving the public key from the device;

authenticating the public key with a corresponding private key in an authentication database

registering the user for biometric authentication, wherein to register comprises capturing a fingerprint scan of the user and storing a private key in the authentication database responsive to the fingerprint scan.

9. The online collaboration method of claim 8, further comprising:

creating a custom template for the online collaboration.

10. The online collaboration method of claim 8, wherein the template comprises a collection of any of text, video, audio, file attachments, calendars, contact lists, memos, to do lists, schedules, action item lists, announcements, and task lists.

11. The online collaboration method of claim 8, wherein files associated with the online collaboration are stored in a secure data store and encrypted with one of Triple Data Encryption Standard (T-DES) and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption.

12. A secure computer system connected to a plurality of users, comprising:

a hosted server with a network connection to the Internet;

an authentication database communicatively coupled to the hosted server;

a data store communicatively coupled to the hosted server, wherein the data store comprises data storage for an online collaboration;

a plurality of users each with a networked device connected to the Internet, wherein the networked device comprises a biometric authentication device;

wherein the hosted server is configured to host the online collaboration between the plurality of users through a secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) connection to each of the plurality of users and through biometric authentication of each of the plurality of users prior to accessing the online collaboration, wherein each of the plurality of users communicates to the hosted server to perform the online collaboration therebetween, and wherein the biometric authentication is performed avoiding transmission or storage of a user'"'"'s biometric information through converting the user'"'"'s biometric information to a numeric key;

wherein to biometrically authenticate a user of the plurality of users, the hosted server and authentication database are collectively configured to;

send software code to the networked device associated with the user;

scan a fingerprint of the user at the biometric authentication device;

create a numerical index of the fingerprint responsive to the scan of the fingerprint to form a public key;

receive the public key from the device;

authenticate the public key with a corresponding private key in an authentication database; and

register the user for biometric authentication, wherein to register comprises capturing a fingerprint scan of the user and storing a private key in the authentication database responsive to the fingerprint scan.

13. The secure computer system of claim 12, wherein the authentication database comprises a private key related to a public key formed by the biometric authentication device.