Patent EP0762692A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0762692A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Secure user certification for electronic commerce employing value metering system
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1996-08-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-08-21
Abstract
Abstract A system and method include means for processing a cryptographic certificate adapted to provide security functionality. A register means (244) is provided and means (224) for adjusting the register means to account for services when the cryptographic certificate is processed. The register means may be for storing funds. Means are provided for processing a digital token providing proof of postage payment and means are also provided for processing a cryptographic certificate adapted to provide security functionality. Funds stored in the register means are debited when the digital token is processed and when the cryptographic certificate is processed. Processing the cryptographic certificate may involve many functions such as providing security services and/or certificate management functions (including generating and verifying cryptographic certificates) and/or key management functions and/or access to any needed private keys to perform security services. Processing the digital token may include generating the digital token or issuing the digital token.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A. Cordery
- 👤 David K. Lee
- 👤 Leon A. Pintsov
- 👤 Frederick W. Ryan, Jr.
- 👤 Monroe A. Weiant, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:48
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00733; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/382; G06Q20/3821; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0283; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00362; H; H04; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/32; H04L9/321; H04L9/3213; H04L9/3263; H04L9/3268; G06F; G06F7/00; G06F7/60; G06F7/72; G06F7/724; G06F7/725; G07B17/00016; G07B17/0008; G07B2017/00088; G07B2017/00096; G07B2017/00153; G07B2017/00161; G07B2017/00395; G07B2017/00427; G07B2017/00741; G07B2017/00758; G07B2017/00766; G07B2017/00782; G07B2017/0079; G07B2017/00806; G07B2017/00822; G07B2017/0083; G07B2017/00846; G07B2017/00854; G07B2017/00927; H04L2209/00; H04L2209/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
43 words
A system, comprising: register means; means for processing a cryptographic certificate adapted to provide security functionality; and, means operatively connected to said register means and said processing means for adjusting said register means to account for services when said cryptographic certificate is processed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as defined in CLAIM 1 wherein said register means have funds stored therein and said means for adjusting debits funds stored in said register means when said cryptographic certificate is processed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as defined in CLAIM 1 or 2 further comprising means for inhibiting processing of said cryptographic certificate when funds stored in said register means are below a predetermined amount associated with processing said cryptographic certificate.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
25 words
A system as defined in any preceding CLAIM further comprising a secure housing, said means for processing a certificate are mounted within said secure housing.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
19 words
A system defined in any preceding CLAIM wherein said means for processing a cryptographic certificate has cryptographic key means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as defined in CLAIM 5 wherein said cryptographic key means includes a private key for use in a public key system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system as defined in CLAIM 6 wherein said cryptographic key means further includes a public key associated with said private key, said public key being signed with the private key of a certification authority and said public key being available to a user of the system.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
40 words
A system as defined in any one of claims 5 to 7, further comprising communications means coupled to said means for processing a cryptographic certificate for providing means for communicating cryptographic key information for storage in said cryptographic key means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as defined in CLAIM 8 wherein said means for communicating is mounted within said secure housing and provides a communication path from outside said secure housing to within said secure housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as defined in CLAIM 8 or 9 further comprising an input means coupled to said communications means for inputting data into said system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system as defined in CLAIM 10 wherein said input means is a personal computer means, said personal computer means including modem means for enabling communications with a remote location and enabling communications from said remote location to said communications means for entering data into said system from said remote location.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
23 words
A system as defined in any preceding CLAIM wherein said means for processing a cryptographic certificate includes means for generating a cryptographic certificate.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
24 words
A system as defined in any preceding CLAIM where said means for processing of a cryptographic certificate includes means for verifying a cryptographic certificate.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
19 words
A system as defined in any preceding CLAIM wherein said means for processing cryptographic certificates includes key generator means.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
32 words
A system as defined in any preceding CLAIM further including recharging means coupled to said register means to enable funds stored in said register means to be remotely recharged with additional funds.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
32 words
A system as defined in any preceding CLAIM wherein said adjusting means includes a table of charges for a plurality of services capable of being provided when said cryptographic certificate is processed.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
76 words
A system, comprising: register means for storing funds; means for processing a digital token providing proof of postage payment; means for processing a cryptographic certificate adapted to provide security functionality; and, means, operatively connected to said register means and to said means for processing a digital tokens and to said means for processing a certificate, for debiting funds stored in said register means when said digital token is processed and when said cryptographic certificate is processed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
71 words
A system as defined in CLAIM 17 further comprising means operatively connected to said register means for inhibiting the processing of said digital token when the funds stored in said register means are below a predetermined amount associated with processing of said digital token and for inhibiting processing of said cryptographic certificate when the funds stored in said register means are below a predetermined amount associated with processing said cryptographic certificate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system defined in CLAIM 17 or 18 wherein said means for processing a digital token has first cryptographic key means and said means for processing a cryptographic certificate has second cryptographic key means.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
37 words
A system as defined in any one of claims 17 to 19 further comprising a secure housing, said means for processing a digital token and said means for processing a cryptographic certificate mounted within said secure housing.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
47 words
A system as defined in any one of claims 17 to 20 wherein said first cryptographic key means includes a secret key for use in secret key encryption system and said second cryptographic key means includes a private key for use in a public key encryption system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as defined in CLAIM 21 wherein said second cryptographic key means further includes a public key associated with said private key, said public key being signed with the private key of a certification authority.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
58 words
A system as defined in CLAIM 22 as dependent on claim 19 further comprising communications means coupled to said means for processing a digital token and said means for processing a cryptographic certificate for providing a communications path for communicating cryptographic key information for storage in said first cryptographic key means and in said second cryptographic key means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as defined in CLAIM 23 as dependent on claim 20 wherein said means for communicating is mounted within said secure housing and said communication path enables communications from outside said secure housing to within said secure housing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as defined in CLAIM 24 further comprising an input means coupled to said communications means for inputting data into said system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system as defined in CLAIM 25 wherein said input means is a personal computer means, said personal computer means including modem means for enabling communications with a remote location and enabling communications from said remote location to said communications means for entering data into said system from said remote location.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
24 words
A system as defined in any of claims 17 to 26 wherein said means for processing a cryptographic certificate includes generating said cryptographic certificate.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
23 words
A system as defined in any of claims 17 to 27 where said processing of said cryptographic certificate comprises verifying said cryptographic certificate.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
22 words
A system defined in any one of claims 17 to 28 further comprising a plurality of further means for processing cryptographic certificates.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
36 words
A system as defined in any one of claims 17 to 29 further including recharging means coupled to said register means to enable funds stored in said register means to be remotely recharged with additional funds.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
25 words
A system as defined in any one of claims 17 to 30 wherein said means for processing a digital token includes generating said digital token.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
70 words
A system, comprising: register means; means for processing a digital token providing proof of postage payment; means for processing a cryptographic certificate adapted to provide security functionality; and, means, operatively connected to said means for processing a digital token and to said means for processing a cryptographic certificate, for adjusting said register means to account for services when said cryptographic certificate is processed and when said digital token is processed.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
36 words
A method for use in a system having a register means, comprising: processing a cryptographic certificate adapted to provide security functionality; and, adjusting said register means to account for services when said cryptographic certificate is processed.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
53 words
A method for use in a system having register means for storing funds, comprising: processing a digital token providing proof of postage payment; processing a cryptographic certificate adapted to provide security functionality; and, debiting funds stored in said register means when said digital token is processed and when said cryptographic certificate is processed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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