US5839119A — Method of electronic payments that prevents doubl…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 119 words

A method of generating electronic monetary tokens that supports payments between a buyer and a seller off-line of a financial services provider while preventing double spending, the method comprising: a) generating a first multiplicity of electronic monetary tokens in response to a request from the buyer for use with the seller; b) splitting each electronic monetary token into two electronic token halves having a same serial number, each pair of electronic tokens halves having the same serial number recreating the electronic monetary token when combined together, each electronic token half having no monetary value; c) delivering a subset of the electronic token halves to the seller; and d) delivering another subset of the electronic token halves to the buyer.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 119 words

A method of generating electronic monetary tokens that supports payments between a buyer and a seller off-line of a financial services provider while preventing double spending, the method comprising: a) generating a first multiplicity of electronic monetary tokens in response to a request from the buyer for use with the seller; b) splitting each electronic monetary token into two electronic token halves having a same serial number, each pair of electronic tokens halves having the same serial number recreating the electronic monetary token when combined together, each electronic token half having no monetary value; c) delivering a subset of the electronic token halves to the seller; and d) delivering another subset of the electronic token halves to the buyer.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 1 further comprising: e) storing in a database entry the session serial numbers of the electronic monetary tokens.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 2 further comprising: f) in response to a redemption request including a first electronic monetary token, detecting an attempt to double spend the first electronic monetary token using a session serial number of the first electronic monetary token and the database entry.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 76 words

The method of claim 2 further comprising: f) in response to a redemption request from the buyer including a first electronic token half having a first session serial number: 1) redeeming electronic monetary tokens received from the seller; 2) noting as invalid the sessions serial numbers of the electronic monetary tokens received from the seller using the database entry; and 3) detecting an attempt to double spend the first electronic token half using the database entry.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 114 words

The method of claim 1 further comprising: e) generating a second multiplicity of electronic authorization tokens in response to a request from the buyer for use with the seller and proof of an assertion about the buyer; f) splitting each electronic authorization token into two authorization token halves having a same serial number, each pair of authorization token halves having the same serial number recreating the electronic authorization token when combined together, each authorization token half having no authority without an authorization token half having the same serial number; g) delivering a subset of the authorization token halves to the seller; and h) delivering another subset of the authorization token halves to the buyer.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 5 further comprising: i) storing in a database entry the session serial numbers of the electronic monetary tokens.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 6 further comprising: f) in response to a redemption request including a first electronic monetary token, detecting an attempt to double spend the first electronic monetary token using a session serial number of the first electronic monetary token and the database entry.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 73 words

The method of claim 6 further comprising: f) in response to a redemption request including a first electronic token half having a first session serial number: 1) redeeming electronic monetary tokens received from the seller; 2) noting as invalid the sessions serial numbers of the electronic monetary tokens received from the seller using the database entry; and 3) detecting an attempt to double spend the first electronic token half using the database entry.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 242 words

A method of supporting electronic payments between a buyer and a seller off-line of a financial services provider that prevents double-spending, the method comprising the steps of: a) generating a first number of electronic monetary tokens in response to a request from the buyer for use with the seller, the first number being greater than two, each electronic token having a second number of bits representing a monetary value of the electronic monetary token; c) splitting each of the first number of electronic monetary tokens into two electronic token halves by: c1) for each electronic token creating a first token half by generating a random string having a third number of bits equal to the second number of bits; c2) for each electronic monetary token creating a second token half by performing a bitwise XOR using the electronic monetary token and the first token half; c3) for electronic monetary token associating with each token half a serial number, each electronic token half having no monetary value alone and combining with another electronic token half having a same serial number to recreate an electronic monetary token; d) electronically transmitting to the seller a first subset of the electronic token halves, none of the first subset of electronic token halves having a same serial number; and e) electronically transmitting to the buyer a second subset of the electronic token halves, none of the second subset of electronic token halves having a same serial number.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 242 words

A method of supporting electronic payments between a buyer and a seller off-line of a financial services provider that prevents double-spending, the method comprising the steps of: a) generating a first number of electronic monetary tokens in response to a request from the buyer for use with the seller, the first number being greater than two, each electronic token having a second number of bits representing a monetary value of the electronic monetary token; c) splitting each of the first number of electronic monetary tokens into two electronic token halves by: c1) for each electronic token creating a first token half by generating a random string having a third number of bits equal to the second number of bits; c2) for each electronic monetary token creating a second token half by performing a bitwise XOR using the electronic monetary token and the first token half; c3) for electronic monetary token associating with each token half a serial number, each electronic token half having no monetary value alone and combining with another electronic token half having a same serial number to recreate an electronic monetary token; d) electronically transmitting to the seller a first subset of the electronic token halves, none of the first subset of electronic token halves having a same serial number; and e) electronically transmitting to the buyer a second subset of the electronic token halves, none of the second subset of electronic token halves having a same serial number.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 70 words

The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of: f) delivering a good to the buyer in response to receipt of a one of the electronic token halves of the second subset if off-line of the financial services provider the one of the electronic token halves from the second subset combines with a one of the electronic token halves from the first subset to recreate an electronic monetary token.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method claim 9 further comprising the step of: f) storing in a database entry the serial numbers of each pair of electronic token halves generated during step c).

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of: g) in response to a redemption request from the seller including a first electronic monetary token, detecting an attempt to double spend the first electronic monetary token using a session serial number of the first electronic token and the database entry.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 82 words

The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of: g) in response to a redemption request from the buyer including a first electronic token half having a first session serial number: 1) redeeming electronic monetary tokens received from the seller; 2) noting as invalid the sessions serial numbers of the electronic monetary tokens received from the seller using the database entry; and 3) detecting an attempt by the buyer to double spend the first electronic token half using the database entry.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 229 words

The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of: f) generating a third number of electronic authorization tokens in response to a request from the buyer for use with the seller and proof of an assertion about the buyer, each electronic authorization token having a fourth number of bits representing the assertion about the buyer; g) splitting each of the third number of electronic authorization tokens into two authorization token halves by: g1) for each electronic authorization token creating a first authorization token half by generating a random string having a fifth number of bits equal to the fourth number of bits; g2) for each electronic authorization token creating a second authorization token half by performing a bitwise XOR using the electronic authorization token and the first authorization token half; g3) for each electronic authorization token associating with each authorization token half a serial number, each authorization token half having no authority alone and combining with another authorization token half having a same serial number to recreate an electronic authorization token; d) electronically transmitting to the seller a first subset of the authorization token halves, none of the first subset of authorization token halves having a same serial number; and e) electronically transmitting to the buyer a second subset of the authorization token halves, none of the second subset of authorization token halves having a same serial number.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 120 words

A method of generating electronic tokens that supports off-line transactions between a first party and a second party, the method comprising: a) generating a first multiplicity of electronic tokens in response to a request from the first party for use with the second party; b) splitting each electronic token into two electronic token halves having a same serial number, each pair of electronic tokens halves having the same serial number recreating the electronic token when combined together, each electronic token half being unintelligible without an electronic token half having the same serial number; c) assigning a subset of the electronic token halves to the second party; and d) assigning another subset of the electronic token halves to the first party.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 120 words

A method of generating electronic tokens that supports off-line transactions between a first party and a second party, the method comprising: a) generating a first multiplicity of electronic tokens in response to a request from the first party for use with the second party; b) splitting each electronic token into two electronic token halves having a same serial number, each pair of electronic tokens halves having the same serial number recreating the electronic token when combined together, each electronic token half being unintelligible without an electronic token half having the same serial number; c) assigning a subset of the electronic token halves to the second party; and d) assigning another subset of the electronic token halves to the first party.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 15 further comprising: e) storing in a database entry the serial numbers of the electronic tokens.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 16 further comprising: f) in response to a redemption request including a first electronic token, detecting an attempt to double spend the first electronic token using a serial number of the first electronic token and the database entry.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 67 words

The method of claim 16 further comprising: f) in response to a redemption request including a first electronic token half having a first serial number: 1) noting as invalid the serial numbers of the electronic tokens received from the second party using the database entry; and 2) detecting an attempt to double spend the first electronic token half using the first serial number and the database entry.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 65 words

The method of claim 15 wherein splitting each electronic token comprises: 1) for each electronic token creating a first token half by generating a random string having a number of bits equal to a number of bits of the electronic token; 2) for each electronic token creating a second token half by performing a bitwise XOR using the electronic token and the first token half.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 232 words

An article of manufacture comprising: a) a memory; and b) instructions stored in the memory for a method of supporting off-line electronic transactions between a buyer and a seller that prevents double-spending, the method comprising: 1) generating a first number of electronic tokens in response to a request from the buyer for use with the seller, the first number being greater than two, each electronic token having a second number of bits; 2) splitting each of the first number of electronic monetary tokens into two electronic token halves by: A) for each electronic token creating a first token half by generating a random string having a third number of bits equal to the second number of bits; B) for each electronic token creating a second token half by performing a bitwise XOR using the electronic token and the first token half; C) for electronic token associating with each token half a serial number, each electronic token half being unintelligible alone and combining with another electronic token half having a same serial number to recreate an electronic token; 3) assigning to the seller a first subset of the electronic token halves, none of the first subset of electronic token halves having a same serial number; and 4) assigning to the buyer a second subset of the electronic token halves, none of the second subset of electronic token halves having a same serial number.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 232 words

An article of manufacture comprising: a) a memory; and b) instructions stored in the memory for a method of supporting off-line electronic transactions between a buyer and a seller that prevents double-spending, the method comprising: 1) generating a first number of electronic tokens in response to a request from the buyer for use with the seller, the first number being greater than two, each electronic token having a second number of bits; 2) splitting each of the first number of electronic monetary tokens into two electronic token halves by: A) for each electronic token creating a first token half by generating a random string having a third number of bits equal to the second number of bits; B) for each electronic token creating a second token half by performing a bitwise XOR using the electronic token and the first token half; C) for electronic token associating with each token half a serial number, each electronic token half being unintelligible alone and combining with another electronic token half having a same serial number to recreate an electronic token; 3) assigning to the seller a first subset of the electronic token halves, none of the first subset of electronic token halves having a same serial number; and 4) assigning to the buyer a second subset of the electronic token halves, none of the second subset of electronic token halves having a same serial number.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 31 words

The article of manufacture of claim 20 wherein the instructions stored in the memory further comprise: 5) storing in a database entry the session serial numbers of the electronic monetary tokens.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 57 words

The article of manufacture of claim 21 wherein the instructions stored in the memory further comprise: 6) in response to a redemption request from the seller including a first electronic monetary token, detecting an attempt to double spend the first electronic monetary token using a session serial number of the first electronic token and the database entry.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 94 words

The article of manufacture of claim 21 wherein the instructions stored in the memory further comprise: 6) in response to a redemption request from the buyer including a first electronic token half having a first session serial number: A) redeeming electronic monetary tokens received from the seller; B) noting as invalid the sessions serial numbers of the electronic monetary tokens received from the seller using the database entry; and C) detecting an attempt by the buyer to double spend the first electronic token half using the first session serial number and the database entry.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 123 words

The article of manufacture of claim 20 wherein the instructions stored in the memory further comprise: 5) generating a second multiplicity of electronic authorization tokens in response to a request from the buyer for use with the seller and proof of an assertion about the buyer; 6) splitting each electronic authorization token into two authorization token halves having a same serial number, each pair of authorization token halves having the same serial number recreating the electronic authorization token when combined together, each authorization token half having no authority without an authorization token half having the same serial number; 7) delivering a subset of the authorization token halves to the seller; and 8) delivering another subset of the authorization token halves to the buyer.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-11-16	2002-05-18	2002-11-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-11-16	2006-05-18	2006-11-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-11-16	2010-05-18	2010-11-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method of electronic payments that prevents double-spending

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag