US6289323B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for completing monetary transactions by presentment of postage value to a postal authority
Assignee: United States Postal Service
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Filing: 1999-06-18
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Granted: 2001-09-11
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Expires: 2019-06-18
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for conducting secure transactions via postal authority cryptographic transformations. In particular, value is issued in the form of a value message including a cryptographic transformation enabling a recipient to determine the authenticity of the value message. The recipient applies additional cryptographically transformed information to endorse the value message. The postal authority, receives the endorsed value message, cryptographically transforms the value message, and registers the transfer of value from the payor to the payee. Similarly, the cryptographic transformations can be used to protect the identity of a mail order customer while ensuring the authenticity of a purchase order and payment by a customer to a mail order merchant. In yet another application, the cryptographic transformations facilitate payment of bills via submission of “endorsed” postcards to the postal authority.
Inventors
- 👤 Roy R. Gordon
- 👤 Wayne E. Wilkerson
- 👤 Dan Lord
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:48
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/04; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/10; G06Q20/102; G06Q20/14; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/382; G06Q20/3825; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00733; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00435; G07B17/00016; G07B17/0008; G07B2017/00145; G07B2017/00153; G07B2017/00161; G07B2017/00169; G07B2017/00741; G07B2017/00758; G07B2017/00766; G07B2017/00927; G07B2017/00935; G07B2017/00959; G07B2017/00967
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for negotiating value using cryptographically transformed electronically interpretable indicia media comprising the steps of: issuing a value message including a payer identification, a payee identification, an amount to be negotiated by presentment to a postal authority outlet, and a payer digital signature; providing a public key for cryptographically creating the payer digital signature in order to authenticate the value message; presenting, by a payee, the value message to a postal authority outlet; authenticating, by a postal authority validation apparatus, the value message by applying the public key to the digital signature; and adjusting at least one account status to reflect successful completion of negotiating the value message.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for negotiating value using cryptographically transformed electronically interpretable indicia media comprising the steps of: issuing a value message including a payer identification, a payee identification, an amount to be negotiated by presentment to a postal authority outlet, and a payer digital signature; providing a public key for cryptographically creating the payer digital signature in order to authenticate the value message; presenting, by a payee, the value message to a postal authority outlet; authenticating, by a postal authority validation apparatus, the value message by applying the public key to the digital signature; and adjusting at least one account status to reflect successful completion of negotiating the value message.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
166 words
A system for conveying value using cryptographically transformed electronically interpretable indicia media, the system comprising: an electronic apparatus for generating a value message including a payer identification, a payee identification, an amount to be negotiated by presentment of the value message to a postal authority outlet, and a payer digital signature; a public key for authenticating the value message by application of the public key to the payer digital signature; a value message reader for sensing indicia within the value message and transmitting information within the value message in binary form; a value message resolver including: an electronic interface coupled to the value message reader for receiving the information within the value message; an authenticator for applying the public key, in accordance with a cryptographic transformation algorithm, to the payer digital signature to verify the authenticity of the value message; and an account manager for adjusting at least one account status in response to successful cryptographic transformation and authentication of the value message by the authenticator.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
166 words
A system for conveying value using cryptographically transformed electronically interpretable indicia media, the system comprising: an electronic apparatus for generating a value message including a payer identification, a payee identification, an amount to be negotiated by presentment of the value message to a postal authority outlet, and a payer digital signature; a public key for authenticating the value message by application of the public key to the payer digital signature; a value message reader for sensing indicia within the value message and transmitting information within the value message in binary form; a value message resolver including: an electronic interface coupled to the value message reader for receiving the information within the value message; an authenticator for applying the public key, in accordance with a cryptographic transformation algorithm, to the payer digital signature to verify the authenticity of the value message; and an account manager for adjusting at least one account status in response to successful cryptographic transformation and authentication of the value message by the authenticator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The system of claim 2 further comprising a payee endorser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 2 further comprising a transaction acknowledger that, in response to successful cryptographic transformation and authentication of the value message, issues a message to the payee confirming that the value message has been processed.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for executing at least part of an electronic commerce transaction in a manner such that the privacy of a customer is maintained with regard to a vendor, the method comprising the steps of: submitting, from the customer to the vendor via an electronic transmission media, a purchase request including a unique customer identification and customer authentication code, the unique customer identification being of a type such that the customer's address and name identity are not discernable by the vendor from the unique customer identification; and depositing into a delivery stream, by the vendor, a parcel containing an item corresponding to the purchase request, the parcel including a graphically encoded mailing label and the label including information sufficient to enable a parcel delivery service to determine a delivery point for the parcel.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for executing at least part of an electronic commerce transaction in a manner such that the privacy of a customer is maintained with regard to a vendor, the method comprising the steps of: submitting, from the customer to the vendor via an electronic transmission media, a purchase request including a unique customer identification and customer authentication code, the unique customer identification being of a type such that the customer's address and name identity are not discernable by the vendor from the unique customer identification; and depositing into a delivery stream, by the vendor, a parcel containing an item corresponding to the purchase request, the parcel including a graphically encoded mailing label and the label including information sufficient to enable a parcel delivery service to determine a delivery point for the parcel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of: receiving, by the parcel delivery service, the parcel; and correlating, by the parcel delivery service, the information provided on the graphically encoded mailing label to a delivery point.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of: correlating, by the parcel delivery service, the information provided on the graphically encoded mailing label to an email address; and submitting, by the parcel delivery service, an email message concerning the parcel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the email message includes information provided by the vendor on the graphically encoded mailing label.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the email message includes information provided by the parcel delivery service concerning delivery of the parcel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of: submitting an endorsed purchase request, issued by the vendor, to a purchase clearinghouse, the endorsed purchase request including the unique customer identification.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of: effecting electronic charge/payment operations between the customer and the vendor in response to the receiving step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of: processing, by the purchase clearinghouse, the endorsed purchase request; and returning a transaction clearance message to the vendor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the transaction clearance message includes a unique transaction identification and the label includes the unique transaction identification.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for conducting parcel delivery utilizing the email accounts of parcel recipients, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, by a parcel delivery service, a parcel including graphically encoded information; decoding, by the parcel delivery service, the graphically encoded information; identifying an email address corresponding to the parcel; and transmitting an email message to the identified email address.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for conducting parcel delivery utilizing the email accounts of parcel recipients, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, by a parcel delivery service, a parcel including graphically encoded information; decoding, by the parcel delivery service, the graphically encoded information; identifying an email address corresponding to the parcel; and transmitting an email message to the identified email address.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the email message contains a message from a vendor to an intended recipient of the parcel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising receiving a response to the transmitted email message.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of: scheduling delivery of the parcel based upon the received response to the email message.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the email message contains a message from the parcel delivery service to an intended recipient of the parcel concerns delivery of the parcel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the email message includes information pertaining to delivery scheduling.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for performing bill payment by a customer to a vendor via scanning of postcards, the method comprising the steps of: providing by the vendor, a postcard containing graphically encoded bill payment instructions; depositing the postcard within a mail stream accessible by a delivery service; decoding, by the delivery service, the graphically encoded bill payment instructions on the deposited postcard; and issuing, by the delivery service, bill payment instructions to the respective financial institutions for the customer and the vendor.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for performing bill payment by a customer to a vendor via scanning of postcards, the method comprising the steps of: providing by the vendor, a postcard containing graphically encoded bill payment instructions; depositing the postcard within a mail stream accessible by a delivery service; decoding, by the delivery service, the graphically encoded bill payment instructions on the deposited postcard; and issuing, by the delivery service, bill payment instructions to the respective financial institutions for the customer and the vendor.
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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) | 2004-09-10 | 2005-03-12 | 2005-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-09-10 | 2009-03-12 | 2009-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-09-10 | 2013-03-12 | 2013-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |