US6442571B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for secure electronic, certified, restricted delivery mail systems
Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC
•
Filing: 2000-10-24
•
Granted: 2002-08-27
•
Expires: 2020-10-24
Abstract
Abstract A computer data signal embodied in a propagation medium is provided. The signal enables a variable number of data transfers and includes an initial connection source code segment and a data transfer source code segment. The initial connection source code segment establishes a connection between at least two devices via predetermined listening ports, with at least one predetermined listening port residing within each device. The initial connection source code segment also dynamically assigns a first data port within a first device, and transmits the address of the first data port to a remaining device via the predetermined listening ports. The data transfer source code segment is for each of the variable number of data transfer operations. The data transfer source code segment dynamically assigns a corresponding second data port within the remaining device and transfers data between the connected devices via the data ports so that the data is substantially simultaneously transferred between a variable number of devices via the data ports. Each pair of first and second data ports is established in response to each listening port connection.
Inventors
- 👤 Maurice W. Haff
- 👤 Christopher D. Clarke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:56
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L61/09; H04L61/10; G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/10; G06F16/13; H04L63/00; H04L63/04; H04L63/0428; H04L63/0442; H04L63/08; H04L63/0823; H04L63/16; H04L63/168; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/06; H04L67/10; H04L67/104; H04L67/1061; H04L67/1063; H04L67/1074; H04L67/1078; H04L67/1087; H04L67/1093; H04L67/14; H04L69/00; H04L69/04; H04L69/16; H04L69/161; H04L69/162; H04L69/164; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/326; H04L69/329; H04L2101/00; H04L2101/60; H04L2101/618; H04L2101/663; H04L69/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99943; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952; Y10S707/99953
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 59
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A receiving data transfer device that receives data and data transfer attributes electronically transferred from at least one remote device originating a data transfer, the receiving data transfer device comprising: a delivery receipt system that generates a delivery receipt comprising data transfer attributes verification after successfully verifying that the received data is the same as the data sent by the at least one remote device; a certifying system that communicates with an independent certifying processing device that certifies delivery receipts, the independent certifying processing device sending receipt certification to at least one of the devices involved in the data transfer after processing a delivery receipt, which certification comprises authentication of the data transfer using a postmark of a postal authority which postmark is a unique digital characterization of the delivery receipt, wherein at least one successful data transfer to the receiving data transfer device is certified by the independent certifying processing device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A receiving data transfer device that receives data and data transfer attributes electronically transferred from at least one remote device originating a data transfer, the receiving data transfer device comprising: a delivery receipt system that generates a delivery receipt comprising data transfer attributes verification after successfully verifying that the received data is the same as the data sent by the at least one remote device; a certifying system that communicates with an independent certifying processing device that certifies delivery receipts, the independent certifying processing device sending receipt certification to at least one of the devices involved in the data transfer after processing a delivery receipt, which certification comprises authentication of the data transfer using a postmark of a postal authority which postmark is a unique digital characterization of the delivery receipt, wherein at least one successful data transfer to the receiving data transfer device is certified by the independent certifying processing device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The receiving data transfer device of claim 1 , further comprising a data transfer system that transfers data and associated data transfer attributes electronically with the at least one remote device originating the data transfer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The receiving data transfer device of claim 1 , in which access to the data transferred to the receiving device is restricted to an intended recipient using public key cryptography, security being assured through user authentication and data encryption.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The receiving data transfer device of claim 1 , in which data transferred is encrypted prior to transport to receiving devices using at least one public key associated with each destination, and received encrypted data can only be decrypted using the intended recipient's private key, with data access control characteristic of standard public key cryptography.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The receiving data transfer device of claim 1 , in which encrypted data is transferred to the receiving device, along with authenticated user identity and electronic finger print of the data transferred, without passing through the independent certifier or a security server.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The receiving data transfer device of claim 1 , in which a delivery receipt is generated with no action required by the intended recipient.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The receiving data transfer device of claim 1 , in which the certified delivery receipt further comprises a verifiable electronic postmark representation by a postal authority.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The receiving data transfer device of claim 7 , in which the certified delivery receipt is uniquely identified and linked to a specific data transfer transaction by data transfer attribute elements and the electronic postmark of a postal authority.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The receiving data transfer device of claim 1 , in which the unique digital characterization comprises digitally signing the delivery receipt, assuring at least in part tampering and modification detection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The receiving data transfer device of claim 1 , in which the data transfer attributes verification is independent of data access by an intended data transfer recipient.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The receiving data transfer device of claim 1 , wherein the data comprises at least one file.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
156 words
A data transfer system comprising: an originating data transfer device originating a transfer of data and data transfer attributes; an independent certifying processing device that sends a data transfer certification to at least one device involved in the data transfer after processing a delivery receipt, which certification comprises authentication of the data transfer using a postmark of a postal authority which postmark is a unique digital characterization of the delivery receipt; a receiving data transfer device that receives the data and data transfer attributes, verifies that the received data is the same as the data sent by an at least one remote device, processes the delivery receipt comprising data transfer attribute verification, which indicates successful receipt of the data, after successful receipt of the data transferred, and communicates with the independent certifying processing device; wherein at least one data transfer to the receiving data transfer device is certified when successful by the independent certifying processing device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
156 words
A data transfer system comprising: an originating data transfer device originating a transfer of data and data transfer attributes; an independent certifying processing device that sends a data transfer certification to at least one device involved in the data transfer after processing a delivery receipt, which certification comprises authentication of the data transfer using a postmark of a postal authority which postmark is a unique digital characterization of the delivery receipt; a receiving data transfer device that receives the data and data transfer attributes, verifies that the received data is the same as the data sent by an at least one remote device, processes the delivery receipt comprising data transfer attribute verification, which indicates successful receipt of the data, after successful receipt of the data transferred, and communicates with the independent certifying processing device; wherein at least one data transfer to the receiving data transfer device is certified when successful by the independent certifying processing device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The data transfer system of claim 12 , further comprising a first data transfer system, the independent certifying processing device comprising a second data transfer system, and the receiving data transfer device comprising a third data transfer system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The data transfer system of claim 12 , in which access to the data transferred to the receiving device is restricted to the intended recipient using public key cryptography, security being assured through user authentication and data encryption.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
The data transfer system of claim 12 , in which data transferred is encrypted prior to transport to receiving devices using at least one public key associated with each destination, and received encrypted data can only be decrypted using an intended recipient's private key, with data access control characteristic of standard public key cryptography.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The data transfer system of claim 12 , in which encrypted data is transferred to the receiving device, along with authenticated user identity and electronic finger print of the data transferred, without passing through the independent certifier or a security server.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The receiving data transfer system of claim 12 , in which a delivery receipt is generated with no action required by an intended recipient.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The data transfer system of claim 12 , in which the certified delivery receipt further comprises a verifiable electronic postmark representation by a postal authority.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The data transfer system of claim 18 , in which the certified delivery receipt is uniquely identified and linked to a specific data transfer by data transfer attribute elements and the electronic postmark of a postal authority.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The data transfer system of claim 12 , in which the unique digital characterization comprises digitally signing the delivery receipt, assuring at least in part tampering and modification detection.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The data transfer system of claim 12 , in which the data transfer attributes verification is independent of data access by an intended data transfer recipient.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The data transfer system of claim 12 , wherein the data comprises at least one file.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
158 words
A computer readable medium that stores a data transfer program for receiving data and data transfer attributes and certifying successful receipt of a data transfer electronically transferred from at least one device involved in a transaction to a receiving device, the medium comprising: a delivery receipt source code segment that generates a delivery receipt comprising data transfer attributes verification after successfully verifying that the received data is the same as the data sent by an at least one remote device; a certifying source code segment that communicates with an independent certifying processing device that certifies delivery receipts, the independent certifying processing device providing certification to at least one of the devices involved in the data transfer after processing the delivery receipt, which certification comprises authentication using a postmark of a postal authority which postmark is a unique digital characterization of the delivery receipt, wherein at least one successful data transfer is certified by the independent certifying processing device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
158 words
A computer readable medium that stores a data transfer program for receiving data and data transfer attributes and certifying successful receipt of a data transfer electronically transferred from at least one device involved in a transaction to a receiving device, the medium comprising: a delivery receipt source code segment that generates a delivery receipt comprising data transfer attributes verification after successfully verifying that the received data is the same as the data sent by an at least one remote device; a certifying source code segment that communicates with an independent certifying processing device that certifies delivery receipts, the independent certifying processing device providing certification to at least one of the devices involved in the data transfer after processing the delivery receipt, which certification comprises authentication using a postmark of a postal authority which postmark is a unique digital characterization of the delivery receipt, wherein at least one successful data transfer is certified by the independent certifying processing device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The medium of claim 23 , in which access to the data transferred to the receiving device is restricted to an intended recipient using public key cryptography, security being assured through user authentication and data encryption.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
49 words
The medium of claim 23 , in which data transferred is encrypted prior to transport to receiving devices using public keys associated with each destination, and received encrypted data can only be decrypted using an intended recipient's private key, with data access control characteristic of standard public key cryptography.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
The medium of claim 23 , in which encrypted data is transferred to the receiving device, along with authenticated user identity and electronic finger print of the data transferred, without passing through the independent certifier or a security server.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The medium of claim 23 , in which a delivery receipt is generated with no action required by an intended recipient.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The medium of claim 23 , in which the delivery receipt further comprises a verifiable electronic postmark representation by a postal authority.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
The medium of claim 23 , in which the delivery receipt is uniquely identified and linked to a specific data transfer by data transfer attribute elements and the electronic postmark of the postal authority.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The medium of claim 23 , in which the unique digital characterization further comprises digitally signing the delivery receipt, assuring at least in part tampering and modification detection.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The medium of claim 23 , in which the data transfer attributes verification is independent of data access by an intended data transfer recipient.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The medium of claim 23 , wherein the data comprises at least one file.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for receiving data and data transfer attributes and certifying successful receipt of a data transfer electronically transferred from at least one originating remote device to a receiving device, the method comprising: generating a delivery receipt comprising data attributes verification after successfully verifying that the received data is the same as the data sent by the at least one remote device; communicating with an independent certifying processing device that verifies delivery receipts; and sending certification from the independent certifying processing device to at least one device involved in the data transfer after processing the delivery receipt, which certification comprises authentication using a postmark of a postal authority which postmark is a unique digital characterization of the delivery receipt, wherein the independent certifying processing device certifies at least one successful data transfer to the receiving device.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for receiving data and data transfer attributes and certifying successful receipt of a data transfer electronically transferred from at least one originating remote device to a receiving device, the method comprising: generating a delivery receipt comprising data attributes verification after successfully verifying that the received data is the same as the data sent by the at least one remote device; communicating with an independent certifying processing device that verifies delivery receipts; and sending certification from the independent certifying processing device to at least one device involved in the data transfer after processing the delivery receipt, which certification comprises authentication using a postmark of a postal authority which postmark is a unique digital characterization of the delivery receipt, wherein the independent certifying processing device certifies at least one successful data transfer to the receiving device.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 33 , transferring data and associated data transfer attributes electronically with at least one remote device originating a data transfer.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 33 , in which access to the data transferred to the receiving device is restricted to an intended recipient using public key cryptography, security being assured through user authentication and data encryption.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 33 , in which data transferred is encrypted prior to transport to receiving devices using public keys associated with each destination, and received encrypted data can only be decrypted using an intended recipient's private key, with data access control characteristic of standard public key cryptography.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 33 , in which encrypted data is transferred to the receiving device, along with authenticated user identity and electronic finger print of the data transferred, without passing through the independent certifier or a security server.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 33 , in which a delivery receipt is generated with no action required by an intended recipient.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 33 , in which the delivery receipt further comprises a verifiable electronic postmark representation by a postal authority.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 39 , in which the delivery receipt is uniquely identified and linked to a specific data transfer by data transfer attributes and the electronic postmark of the postal authority.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 33 , in which the unique digital characterization comprises digitally signing the delivery receipt, assuring at least in part tampering and modification detection.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 33 , in which the data transfer attributes verification is independent of data access by an intended data transfer recipient.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein the data comprises at least one file.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
217 words
A method for transfer of data electronically over shared communication pathways from at least one remote device originating the transfer to a receiving device, the method comprising: authenticating an identity of each intended party to the data transfer; generating data transfer attributes characterizing the data transferred; encrypting the data to restrict access to intended recipients of the data transferred; sending the data transfer attributes and the encrypted data to the at least one receiving device; receiving the data transfer attributes and the encrypted data by the at least one receiving device; verifying received data transfer attributes providing verification that the received data is the same as the data sent by the at least one remote device; processing a delivery receipt comprising data attributes verification after successfully verifying that the received data is the same as the data sent by the at least one remote device; communicating with an independent certifying processor that certifies delivery receipts, the certification comprising authentication using a postmark of a postal authority which postmark is a unique digital characterization of a delivery receipt; and sending certification from the independent certifying processor to at least one device involved in the data transfer after certifying the delivery receipt, wherein the independent certifying processing device certifies at least one successful data transfer to the receiving device.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
217 words
A method for transfer of data electronically over shared communication pathways from at least one remote device originating the transfer to a receiving device, the method comprising: authenticating an identity of each intended party to the data transfer; generating data transfer attributes characterizing the data transferred; encrypting the data to restrict access to intended recipients of the data transferred; sending the data transfer attributes and the encrypted data to the at least one receiving device; receiving the data transfer attributes and the encrypted data by the at least one receiving device; verifying received data transfer attributes providing verification that the received data is the same as the data sent by the at least one remote device; processing a delivery receipt comprising data attributes verification after successfully verifying that the received data is the same as the data sent by the at least one remote device; communicating with an independent certifying processor that certifies delivery receipts, the certification comprising authentication using a postmark of a postal authority which postmark is a unique digital characterization of a delivery receipt; and sending certification from the independent certifying processor to at least one device involved in the data transfer after certifying the delivery receipt, wherein the independent certifying processing device certifies at least one successful data transfer to the receiving device.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 44 , in which access to the data transferred to the receiving device is restricted to an intended recipient using public key cryptography, security being assured through user authentication and data encryption.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 44 , in which data transferred is encrypted prior to transport to receiving devices using public keys associated with each destination, and received encrypted data can only be decrypted using an intended recipient's private key, with data access control characteristic of standard public key cryptography.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 44 , in which encrypted data is transferred to the receiving device, along with authenticated user identity and electronic finger print of the data transferred, without passing through the independent certifier or a security server.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 44 , in which a delivery receipt is generated with no action required by an recipient.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
24 words
The data transfer device of claim 44 , in which the delivery receipt further comprises a verifiable electronic postmark representation by a postal authority.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 49 , in which the certified delivery receipt is uniquely identified and linked to a specific data transfer by data transfer attribute elements and the electronic postmark of the postal authority.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 44 in which the unique digital characterization comprises digitally signing the delivery receipt, assuring at least in part tampering and modification detection.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 44 , in which the data transfer attributes verification is independent of data access by an intended data transfer recipient.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 44 , further comprising communicating with at least the originating remote device to certify successful data transfer.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 53 , wherein the data comprises at least one file.
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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) | 2005-08-26 | 2006-02-25 | 2006-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-26 | 2010-02-25 | 2010-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-26 | 2014-02-25 | 2014-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |