US6141116A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for secured transmission of data over telephone communications system
Assignee: LINCOLN INVESTMENTS Ltd
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Filing: 1997-04-11
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Granted: 2000-10-31
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Expires: 2017-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for confidential transmissions of documents over existing telephone communications lines is disclosed that generates encrypted documents suitable for reception by a facsimile machine. The encrypted document can be received by a facsimile device (60) at a distant location and decrypted by its intended recipient with the use of a unique encryptogram (38). The encrypted document can be recognized by existing optical character recognition systems and then modified to minimize the number of characters errors. The original text document is processed to create a unique character set prior to transmission and processed again at the receiving end to convert it into its original plain language format.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory Glen Odom
- 👤 William D. Kitchen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:35
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L9/00; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/44; H04N1/448; H04N1/4486; H04L2209/00; H04L2209/34; H04L2209/60; H04L2209/605
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A process for transmitting electronic files in a confidential manner over a communications path containing a first and second facsimile device, said process comprising the steps of: electronically encrypting an electronic information file using a preselected encryptogram; printing as encrypted text the contents of said encrypted electronic information file to create an indecipherable hard copy; using said first facsimile device to transmit said hard copy to an intended recipient; receiving an image of said hard copy at said second facsimile device; creating a hard copy output of said image; placing said output in an optical character recognizer to create an electronic counterpart of said output; and using the said encryptogram to decrypt the electronic counterpart and create a decipherable message.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A process for transmitting electronic files in a confidential manner over a communications path containing a first and second facsimile device, said process comprising the steps of: electronically encrypting an electronic information file using a preselected encryptogram; printing as encrypted text the contents of said encrypted electronic information file to create an indecipherable hard copy; using said first facsimile device to transmit said hard copy to an intended recipient; receiving an image of said hard copy at said second facsimile device; creating a hard copy output of said image; placing said output in an optical character recognizer to create an electronic counterpart of said output; and using the said encryptogram to decrypt the electronic counterpart and create a decipherable message.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process for transmitting electronic files according to claim 1 wherein said electronic information file is input by a user with a keyboard.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process for transmitting electronic files according to claim 1 wherein said electronic information file is stored on a magnetic storage device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process for transmitting electronic files according to claim 3 wherein said magnetic storage device is a diskette or a hard drive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process for transmitting electronic files according to claim 1 wherein said electronic files are encrypted and decrypted using the Data Encryption Standard.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process for transmitting electronic files according to claim 1 wherein said communications path uses the public switched telephone network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process for transmitting electronic files according to claim 1 wherein said communications path uses the Internet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process for transmitting electronic files according to claim 1 wherein said first and second facsimile devices are inside a computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process for transmitting electronic files according to claim 1 wherein said process further comprises the step of printing said decipherable message.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process for transmitting electronic files according to claim 1 wherein said process further comprises the step of displaying said decipherable message on a computer screen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process for transmitting electronic files according to claim 1 wherein said electronic information files are validated prior to transmission using a longitudinal redundancy check.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process for transmitting electronic files according to claim 1 wherein said electronic counterpart is manually corrected to remove any errors remaining after optical character recognition.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for transmitting and receiving electronic files confidentially over an unsecured communications link, said apparatus comprising: a first computer having an input means and a storage means for storing said files; encryption software in said first computer having the functionality to select any one of said electronic files and encrypting said electronic files to create an indecipherable message; a first facsimile device for transmitting said indecipherable message to an intended recipient; a communications pathway connecting said first facsimile device to a second facsimile device that receives said indecipherable message; an optical character recognition system for recognizing characters contained within said indecipherable message and producing an electronic counterpart of said indecipherable message; a second computer for receiving said electronic counterpart from said optical character recognition device; and decryption software within said second computer for decrypting said electronic counterpart.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for transmitting and receiving electronic files confidentially over an unsecured communications link, said apparatus comprising: a first computer having an input means and a storage means for storing said files; encryption software in said first computer having the functionality to select any one of said electronic files and encrypting said electronic files to create an indecipherable message; a first facsimile device for transmitting said indecipherable message to an intended recipient; a communications pathway connecting said first facsimile device to a second facsimile device that receives said indecipherable message; an optical character recognition system for recognizing characters contained within said indecipherable message and producing an electronic counterpart of said indecipherable message; a second computer for receiving said electronic counterpart from said optical character recognition device; and decryption software within said second computer for decrypting said electronic counterpart.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus for transmitting electronic files according to claim 13 wherein said electronic file is input by a keyboard, a mouse or other similar device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus for transmitting electronic files according to claim 13 wherein said electronic storage is a magnetic diskette or a hard disk drive.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus for transmitting electronic files of claim 13 wherein the encryption software employs the Data Encryption Standard.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus for transmitting electronic files according to claim 13 wherein the public switched telephone network is used to transmit files between said first and second facsimile devices.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus for transmitting electronic files according to claim 13 wherein the Internet is used to transmit files between said first and second facsimile devices.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus for transmitting electronic files of claim 13 further comprising an intranet transmission line for carrying said encrypted file between said first and second facsimile machines.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus for transmitting electronic files of claim 13 further comprising a printer for printing said electronic counterpart.
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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) | 2003-10-31 | 2004-05-01 | 2004-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-31 | 2008-05-01 | 2008-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-31 | 2012-05-01 | 2012-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |