System and method for providing commitment security among users in a computer network
US6385725B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 7, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 26, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q20/403
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for use in a networked communication system provides a type of liability or commitment security mechanism which enables, for example, a merchant to rely on digitally signed statements, and at the same time enables a buyer to selectively enter a commitment limit before a digital signature is made by his or her private signing key. A trusted certificate authority enforces that the chosen limit cannot be exceeded prior to the transaction being fulfilled by issuing a commitment certificate on a per transaction basis which gives the other party a guarantee, even in case the key was compromised. The disclosed system and method allows a user to limit total liability when using a digital signing key even if used to sign any number of commitments or statements with other parties. It allows the beneficiary to trust in the received commitment confirmed by the commitment certificate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.