Apparatus and methods for the secure transfer of electronic data

摘要

An embodiment of the invention provides a method for processing a secure electronic transaction over a network from a sender to a receiver, which includes the process of generating a first unique representation of information included in the transaction, encrypting the information with a first encryption layer, and forming an encryption packet which includes the first encryption layer. The encryption packet is then transmitted over a network and then received the by a receiver. The authenticity of the encryption packet is verified and a receipt is generated using the information included in the encryption packet. The receipt is then transmitted to an electronic postmark server which verifies authenticity of the receipt. A postmarked receipt is then created by the electronic postmark server and a copy is sent to the sender an/or the receiver.

主权项

1. A method for processing a secure electronic transaction sent over a network from a sender computing device to a receiver computing device, the method comprising:
receiving an encryption packet at the receiver computing device, the encryption packet signed with a digital signature of the sender computing device and including:
a first encryption layer of information selected by a user of the sender computing device, anda unique representation of the selected information, the unique representation signed with the digital signature of the sender computing device; sending a verification request from the receiver computing device to a validation authority, the verification request including the digital signature of the sender computing device and requesting verification of an authenticity of the digital signature of the sender computing device; receiving a response from the validation authority, the response verifying the authenticity of the digital signature of the sender computing device; generating a receipt, wherein generating the receipt includes signing the unique representation of the selected information of the encryption packet with a digital signature of the receiver computing device; sending the receipt containing the signed unique representation of the selected information to an electronic postmark server without sending the first encryption layer and the selected information, the receiver computing device sending the receipt after the receiver computing device received the response verifying the authenticity of the digital signature of the sender computing device; and receiving from the electronic postmark server a postmarked receipt, the postmarked receipt having been generated from the receipt sent by the receiver computing device and not including the first encryption layer and the selected information.