US5629982A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Simultaneous electronic transactions with visible trusted parties
Assignee: Docusign Inc
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Filing: 1996-08-20
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Granted: 1997-05-13
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Expires: 2016-08-20
Abstract
Abstract A number of electronic communications methods are described involving a first and a second party (i.e., sender and recipient), with assistance from at least a trusted party, enabling electronic transactions in which the first party has a message for the second party. The first party, the second party and the trusted party undertake an exchange of transmissions, such that if all transmissions reach their destinations the second party only receives the message if the first party receives at least one receipt. Preferably, the identity of the first party is temporarily withheld from the second party during the transaction. At least one receipt received to the first party enables the first party to prove the content of the message received by the second party.
Inventors
- 👤 Silvio Micali
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 01:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L63/00; H04L63/04; H04L63/0428; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/02; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/341; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/382; G06Q20/3825; G06Q20/388; G06Q20/389; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/401; G06Q20/409; G06Q20/4097; G06Q20/40975; G06Q50/00; G06Q50/10; G06Q50/18; G06Q50/188; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008; H04L51/00; H04L51/21; H04L51/23; H04L63/06; H04L63/061; H04L63/08; H04L63/0823; H04L9/00; H04L9/08; H04L9/0816; H04L9/0838; H04L9/0841; H04L9/085; H04L9/32; H04L9/321; H04L9/3247; G06F; G06F2211/00; G06F2211/007; G06F2211/008; G06F2211/009; H04L2209/00; H04L2209/56; H04L2209/60; H04L2463/00; H04L2463/102
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of transmitting a message using a trusted party, comprising the steps of: (a) a sender causing the trusted party to be provided with a version of the message that is encrypted in a key that is not available to the trusted party, and causing the trusted party to receive information identifying the sender and information identifying a recipient; (b) the trusted party using the information identifying the recipient to cause information to be provided to the recipient that allows the recipient to retrieve the message and identify the sender; and (c) the trusted party causing a receipt for the message to be provided to the sender.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of transmitting a message using a trusted party, comprising the steps of: (a) a sender causing the trusted party to be provided with a version of the message that is encrypted in a key that is not available to the trusted party, and causing the trusted party to receive information identifying the sender and information identifying a recipient; (b) the trusted party using the information identifying the recipient to cause information to be provided to the recipient that allows the recipient to retrieve the message and identify the sender; and (c) the trusted party causing a receipt for the message to be provided to the sender.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the message is intelligible to the recipient.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the trusted party is implemented using a tamper-proof device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the message is encrypted with a key of the recipient.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the sender provides a proof that the sender causes the message to be provided to the recipient.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein the proof includes a digital signature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein the proof is provided to the trusted party.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein the trusted party provides a proof to the recipient.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method, according to claim 1, wherein the receipt is provided by the recipient.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method, according to claim 9, wherein the receipt proves the contents of the message.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
16 words
A method, according to claims 10, wherein the receipt contains a digital signature of the recipient.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method, according to claim 1 wherein the receipt proves the contents of the message.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of transmitting a message using a trusted party, comprising the steps of: (a) a sender causing the trusted party to be provided with an encrypted version of the message, information identifying the sender, and information identifying a recipient; (b) the trusted party using the information identifying the recipient to cause information to be provided to the recipient that allows the recipient to retrieve the message and identify the sender even if the recipient does not receive the message, or any version thereof, directly from the sender; and (c) the trusted party causing a receipt for the message to be provided to the sender.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of transmitting a message using a trusted party, comprising the steps of: (a) a sender causing the trusted party to be provided with an encrypted version of the message, information identifying the sender, and information identifying a recipient; (b) the trusted party using the information identifying the recipient to cause information to be provided to the recipient that allows the recipient to retrieve the message and identify the sender even if the recipient does not receive the message, or any version thereof, directly from the sender; and (c) the trusted party causing a receipt for the message to be provided to the sender.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein the encrypted version of the message is unintelligible to the trusted party.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein the trusted party is implemented using a tamper-proof device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein the message is encrypted with a key of the recipient.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein the sender provides a proof that the sender caused the message to be provided to the recipient.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein the proof includes a digital signature.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein the receipt is provided to the trusted party by the recipient.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method, according to claim 19, wherein the receipt proves the contents of the message.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method, according to claim 20, wherein the receipt contains a digital signature of the recipient.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of transmitting a message using a trusted party, comprising the steps of: (a) a sender causing the trusted party to be provided with a first encrypted version of the message; (b) the trusted party causing a second encrypted version of the message to be provided to the recipient, wherein the second encrypted version of the message commits the contents of the message but is unintelligible to the recipient; and (c) in response to the recipient providing an acknowledgement for receiving the second encrypted version of the message, the trusted party causing information to be provided to the recipient that allows the recipient to retrieve the message and identify the sender and the trusted party causing the sender to receive a receipt for the message.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of transmitting a message using a trusted party, comprising the steps of: (a) a sender causing the trusted party to be provided with a first encrypted version of the message; (b) the trusted party causing a second encrypted version of the message to be provided to the recipient, wherein the second encrypted version of the message commits the contents of the message but is unintelligible to the recipient; and (c) in response to the recipient providing an acknowledgement for receiving the second encrypted version of the message, the trusted party causing information to be provided to the recipient that allows the recipient to retrieve the message and identify the sender and the trusted party causing the sender to receive a receipt for the message.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein the first encrypted version of the message is unintelligible to the trusted party.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein the second encrypted version of the message does not reveal the identity of the sender to the recipient.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein the receipt includes the acknowledgement.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein the receipt indicates that the recipient has been provided with the message.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein the receipt proves the contents of the message.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of: (d) in response to the trusted party not receiving the acknowledgement, having the trusted party cause the message to be provided to the recipient by alternative means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 28, wherein the alternative means produces an alternative receipt for delivery of the message.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein the acknowledgement commits the contents of the message.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 22, further comprising the steps of: (d) the trusted party requesting from the recipient a proof that the recipient has obtained an intelligible version of the message; and (e) if the trusted party does not receive the proof, having the trusted party deliver the message by alternative means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 31, wherein the alternative means produces an alternative receipt for delivery of the message.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 31, wherein the receipt includes the proof.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
13 words
A method according to clam 31, wherein the receipt includes the alternative receipt.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
13 words
A method according to clam 31, wherein the receipt includes the alternative receipt.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein the first encrypted version of the message is identical to the second encrypted version of the message.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-05-12 | 2000-11-11 | 2001-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-05-12 | 2004-11-11 | 2005-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-05-12 | 2008-11-11 | 2009-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |