Space efficient method of verifying electronic payments

US6021399A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Xerox Corporation · US

Inventors

• Alan J. Demers · Ramona, US
• Daniel H. Greene · Sunnyvale, US
• Bridget A. Spitznagel · Pittsburgh, US
• Roy Want · Los Altos, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 25, 1996
• Grant date: Feb 1, 2000
• Expiry date: Nov 25, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q20/401
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method of verifying electronic payments generated using a key unknown to the verifier. In anticipation of accepting electronic payments, a seller requests and receives from a bank a conversation key and a first set of electronic verifiers for a first set of electronic payments from a customer. Each verifier allows authentication of an associated electronic payment without revealing the private key used by the customer to generate the electronic payments. Prior to initiating a transaction or series of transactions, the customer requests payment information from the seller for use, along with the master key, in generating electronic payments Afterward, when the customer pays with an electronic payment, the seller authenticates the electronic payment using one of the verifiers. The seller responds to the buyer's request if the electronic payment is authenticated.