Abstract:
A system for generating a secure document for conveying sensitive information includes a customer information receiving module, an encoding module in data communication with the customer information receiving module, and a printing module in data communication with the encoding module. The printing module is configured to provide printing instructions sufficient to generate a secure document from the customer information. The printing module and the encoding module cooperate to at least partially encode the secure document, where the partially encoded portion of the order form comprises sufficient information to convey the sensitive information to a recipient.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/638,271, filed Aug. 9, 2003, pending. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/638,271 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/402,352, filed Aug. 9, 2002. The entire contents of these applications are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     (NOT APPLICABLE)  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention relates generally to the generation of secure documents, and more specifically to the creation of and processing of a secure document containing sensitive information to be conveyed.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Now that computers and their associated components such as compact disk readers, printers and Internet connections have become ubiquitous, consumers are afforded several new and different options for purchasing goods and services. Internet shopping, through so-called “e-businesses,” allows a consumer to shop from the comfort of her living room. The consumer simply logs on to the e-business site through an Internet connection, browses the virtual store, makes selections and loads them into a virtual shopping cart. When the consumer is finished he/she proceeds to the virtual checkout counter. The cost of the goods and services are tallied, applicable tax, shipping and handling charges are added to the purchase, and the consumer pays for the transaction by providing a credit card number. Once the seller authorizes the charge card purchase, the consumer is so advised and the transaction is completed. Similar advantages are obtained for processing and transferring information from one party to another.  
         [0005]     There are at least two difficulties associated with an e-business purchase. First, the rate at which the entire shopping experience occurs is directly related to the speed of the consumer&#39;s Internet connection. Today, 56 kilobyte (kB) modems operating over the standard telephone line are the most common route to the Internet. Faster connections such as XDSL and cable modems offer faster data rates, but they are employed by only a minority of the e-commerce consumers. The transmission data rate is the system bottleneck as it directly affects the speed at which the consumer can proceed through the transaction. Because of this data bottleneck, e-business sites selling products or services that require the display of extensive information to the consumer during the purchasing process are likely to create frustrated buyers. For example, the sell of clothing items likely requires the consumer to process through hundreds of styles and colors before a selection can be made. A slow data transfer rate (where slow is defined as the rate that causes the consumer to lose interest and terminate the purchase process before completing the transaction) dooms the transaction. Even the fastest data rates may not be fast enough for the busy consumer shopping at a well-stocked Internet-site store.  
         [0006]     There is also the well-known problem of credit card fraud associated with Internet transactions. Most consumers are now accustomed to and have accepted the need to provide a credit card number when placing a telephone order. But there is still considerable hesitancy when the computer prompts the consumer to enter a credit card number, after which the number will travel through the unbridled Internet. Surveys have shown that at least 50% of consumers prefer either to send their order through the mail or fax it to the vendor, thus avoiding sending their credit card number over the Internet. In addition to credit card information, Internet users are equally hesitant to send sensitive information over the Internet.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a system for generating a secure document for conveying sensitive information includes a customer information receiving module, an encoding module in data communication with the customer information receiving module, and a printing module in data communication with the encoding module. The printing module is configured to provide printing instructions sufficient to generate a secure document from the customer information. The printing module and the encoding module cooperate to at least partially encode the secure document, where the partially encoded portion of the order form comprises sufficient information to convey the sensitive information to a recipient. The customer information could be any sensitive information that the customer would typically be concerned about transmitting over the Internet, including, for example, medical information, test scores, military security information, evidence in a legal proceeding, government documents, shipping, customs and inventory information, and the like.  
         [0008]     In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of generating and processing a secure document for conveying sensitive information from a customer includes the steps of supplying the customer with a processing module that enables the customer to actuate: (1) collecting customer information including sufficient information to convey the sensitive information; (2) encoding the customer information; and (3) providing instructions sufficient to print encoded information in a scannable format. The method additionally includes a step of receiving the customer information from the customer by: (1) scanning the secure document for the customer information; (2) decoding the customer information; and (3) populating a database with the customer information.  
         [0009]     In still another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of processing a secure document via a computer without Internet access includes the steps of compiling customer information related to sensitive data to be conveyed; encoding at least a portion of the customer information; printing at least the encoded portion of the customer information; receiving the printed information; and decoding the encoded portion of the printed information. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The foregoing and other features of the present invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different figures and text. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.  
         [0011]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate bar codes for use with the present invention; and  
         [0012]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate processes for ordering items according to various embodiments of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     Before describing in detail the particular method and apparatus for order items from a vendor in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the present invention resides in a novel and non-obvious combination of elements and process steps. Accordingly, the elements have been represented by conventional elements in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein.  
         [0014]     According to the teachings of the present invention, one computer-based alternative to purchasing goods and services over the Internet provides the virtual store in the form of an article of manufacture comprising data and software code on a compact disk (CD). The consumer loads the CD into the computer&#39;s compact disk bay and the store is open—day or night. Data is transferred between the disk drive and the computer at much faster rates than Internet download and upload date rates.  
         [0015]     Data/information in many different formats is stored on the CD to enhance the shopping experience and provide the consumer with additional detailed information to promote a more-informed buying decision. The CD is essentially an electronic catalog of merchandise offered by the vendor, with the merchandise information is provided in considerably more detail than a paper catalog. For example, short audio/video segments from recorded movies can be viewed before the movie is purchased. To entice consumers, to use the CD, certain sale items can be made available only on the CD and not at a retail outlet or an Internet site. Furthermore, the CD can contain non-product information related to the items for sale. For example, a CD containing NASCAR products can include race and driver statistical information that would be of interest to a NASCAR fan. Thus the CD has value apart from its electronic catalog function. In another embodiment, NASCAR product CD&#39;s can be formed in the shape of a trading card to create additional intrinsic consumer value in the CD.  
         [0016]     The data-intensive, multi-media information stored on the CD can be displayed from a CD in seconds, where the Internet date transfer for the same quantity of information can take minutes, typically beyond the consumer&#39;s patience limit. Also, shopping at the CD store eliminates transmittal of the consumer&#39;s credit card number over the Internet. Once the CD content has been created by the vendor, an unlimited number of CD&#39;s with the content stored thereon can be manufactured at a marginal cost of pennies. In fact, the CD cost is so low, that they can be given to consumers at no charge. There remains however, the need for an efficient and accurate process for capturing the consumer&#39;s order and transmitting it and related necessary information to a site where the order can be filled and the goods shipped to the consumer.  
         [0017]     According to the teachings of the present invention, the virtual store CD is equipped with self-sufficient software for controlling the viewing and purchasing process. That is, there is no requirement for computer-resident plug-ins, scripts or applets. The CD provides all the software that is required for placing the order; an important convenience for the consumer. By eliminating the need for special computer-resident software, the CD shopping experience is available to anyone with a computer and a CD reader, which now includes a considerable segment of the population.  
         [0018]     The CD shopping experience begins with the consumer perusing the items available for sale on the CD, including drilling down through additional data screens to access more detailed information for a product. Once the consumer has decided to purchase an item, she/he follows the instructions for adding the item to her/his virtual shopping cart. When she/he has finished shopping, the consumer moves to the check-out process, reviewing the items purchased, providing shipping information, credit card number, etc. But note that the consumer does not have an active Internet connection during this process; the computer accesses data only from the CD and the computer&#39;s random access memory.  
         [0019]     All the information required to fill the order, including items, quantity, price, credit card number, etc. is included on the order form. Additionally, according to one embodiment of the present invention, this information is also recorded on the order form in the form of a bar code, which is created with software resident on the CD. After completing the order form, the consumer is presented with a number of alternatives for supplying the order to the vendor. Selection boxes appear on the display screen allowing the consumer to submit the order electronically, by facsimile or by mail. Consumers who are reluctant to release their credit card information over the Internet are thus provided with the facsimile and mail alternatives for placing the order.  
         [0020]     If the facsimile option is selected, the order form, with the bar code disposed thereon, is printed in faxable-form, including the receiving facsimile telephone number. If the mail option is selected, an order form and envelope are printed (with the bar code printed on the order form), and the customer is prompted for additional print copies if he/she wishes to retain a copy. The customer then mails the order form to the vendor. If the consumer selects the electronic transmittal option, he/she is automatically connected to the Internet and the order, including the credit card information, is transmitted to the vendor in encrypted form. This can be accomplished by sending the order as an email attachment or as a file sent directly to the vendor&#39;s database of orders.  
         [0021]     During and after the ordering process, all the ordering information is stored only in the computer&#39;s random access memory. If the consumer elects to save the information, it is saved to a secure area on the computer hard drive under control of the software provided with the vendor&#39;s CD.  
         [0022]     When the order form is received at the vendor&#39;s site (or the site of a third party order services provider), whether by fax, mail or electronically, the data must be entered into the vendor&#39;s ordering system. If the order form is electronically transmitted to the vendor, the order is electronically processed, an efficient and error-free process. The encrypted transmittal offers protection against credit card fraud.  
         [0023]     According to the prior art, whenever a product order is transmitted to a vendor by mail or fax, the order entry process is conventionally accomplished by manual data entry of each character on the order form. The process is labor-intensive, slow and the likelihood of errors is high. To overcome these disadvantages, as described above according to the present invention, the order information is also presented on the order form as a bar code (preferably a two-dimensional bar code as known in the art). Upon receipt of the order form via fax or mail, the vendor scans the bar code with known bar code reading devices and all the order data is entered into the vendor&#39;s ordering system—immediately and without error.  
         [0024]     Single and two-dimensional bar codes are illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , respectively. Either can be employed according to the teachings of the present invention, although use of the one-dimensional bar code limits the amount of data that can be bar code encoded. Essentially, a two-dimensional bar code (also referred to as PDF 417 bar code, where PDF 417 is the industry standard describing the bar code attributes) is comprised of a plurality of one-dimensional bar codes that are compressed and stacked vertically. While this description is not representative of the process by which a two-dimensional bar code is designed, it does illustrate the two-dimensional nature of the bar code. The extra dimension of the two-dimensional bar code allows it to pack significantly more information into the same physical space as occupied by a one-dimensional bar code. This is possible because a single PDF 417 bar code can include up to 90 rows with 30 symbols per row. Thus approximately 2700 digits can be encoded per two-dimensional bar code image. If the digits are limited to text only, about 1800 ASCII characters can be encoded. Error detecting and correcting functions can also be added at the expense of additional data overhead, reducing the number of characters available for textual information. For example, a PDF 417 bar code can hold a total of about 1761 characters with an error correction rate of four. In yet another embodiment the order information is encrypted in the two-dimensional bar code to provide security for the order information.  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  presents an exemplary flow chart of a process  38  for generating an order form and a two-dimensional bar code according to the teachings of the present invention. At a step  40  a consumer retrieves item information from the CD or other mass storage device such as a DVD (digital video disk) onto a computer monitor or data processing device display. Those skilled in the art recognize that other mass storage devices can be used according to the teachings of the present invention, including, but not limited to, flash memory devices, compact flash memory devices, memory sticks, zip disks and microdrives. The various steps of the process  38  are performed under control of a consumer&#39;s computer or other data processing device, but the necessary software instructions and other computer code is provided on the mass storage device for processing by the computer or data processing device to implement the steps of the process  38 . Thus the consumer is not required to have any specific software programs resident on his computer.  
         [0026]     The consumer reviews the item information at a step  42  and considers whether to purchase the item. When an item is ordered (a step  46 ) the item is added to a virtual shopping cart, including the particulars of the ordered item (e.g., size, quantity, price), collectively referred to as order information. The software program on the mass storage device codes the order information and stores it in the computer or data processing device. The coded data presents a text version of the order information in a predetermined format.  
         [0027]     The process  38  loops through the decision step  46  and the steps  40  and  42 , where the consumer retrieves and reviews additional item information as he ponders additional purchases. As he makes additional purchases, the new order information is associated with the previous order information and stored until checkout. When the consumer has finished purchasing items the process exits the decision step  46  to a step  48  where the consumer checks out and an order form is generated. At checkout, the consumer adds his billing, shipping and credit card information, which is also coded by the software program. After the order information is complete, the coded data representative thereof is preferably compressed. In one compression scheme each text character is compressed by matching with a byte compressed equivalent using software resident on the CD. After compression, the information is correlated with the order form print format and also converted into a PDF 417 bar code. See a step  50 . Other printable/scanable codes known to those skilled in the art, including other codes comprising bars or other characters, can be used in lieu of the PDF 417 bar code. The bar code is associated with the stored version of the text-based order form. Also, in one embodiment the bar code is encrypted.  
         [0028]     At a step  52  the consumer prints the order form, which includes the text-based order information and substantially the same order information encoded into the bar code. At a step  54  the form is transmitted to the vendor, either by mail or facsimile. Error-free data entry at the vendor&#39;s site requires simply scanning the bar code with known bar code readers. Thus the order is entered error-free and the consumer has avoided entry of his credit card information through an Internet connection.  
         [0029]     It is known to those skilled in the art that there are several bar code versions included within the PDF 147 bar code standard. As described above, one bar code version provides for 1761 characters with level four error correction. Another version provides the same number of characters in a single bar code, but allows chaining of single bar codes to accommodate more characters. According to one version, 99,999 of such single bar codes can be chained to support the required number of characters.  
         [0030]     In another embodiment, the step  54  further comprises electronically transmitting the order form to the vendor. Preferably, in this embodiment the order information is encrypted (or the credit card information contained in the order form can be encrypted). Further, in this embodiment it is not necessary to create the bar code. Instead the order information is transmitted electronically and entered into the vendor&#39;s order processing system.  
         [0031]     In yet another embodiment of the present invention a merchandise catalog is sent to a purchaser who has elected to “opt-in” to the service. See a step  70  of  FIG. 4 . A list of such consumers is retained by the merchandise vendor and an email, including a web site link from where the consumer can download the merchandise catalog, is sent to the consumers as indicated at a step  72 . In one embodiment the catalog comprises a limited duration catalog that is updated by vendor. When the consumer downloads the catalog (step  74 ), software accompanying the catalog installs an associated software program on the consumer&#39;s computer and stores the catalog in the consumer&#39;s computer. See a step  76 . Preferable, the software places a catalog icon on the computer desktop. Typically, the catalog includes a limited number of items, 50 for example to limit the download duration, especially for consumers accessing the web site over a relatively slow communications link. The catalog contains images and descriptive text information for each item in the catalog. When ordering from the catalog the purchaser enjoys all the options of the CD catalog process and article of manufacture as described above, including the bar code feature for the printed and faxed orders.  
         [0032]     The catalog can be updated on the vendor&#39;s server at any time. Each time the catalog is opened from the consumer&#39;s desktop, the software determines if the consumer is connected to the Internet and if an Internet connection is available, checks whether the catalog has been updated. If a revised catalog is available, the software downloads and replaces the item information for all items revised from the previous catalog version.  
         [0033]     The concepts described herein can be expanded to encompass any application where it is desirable to process sensitive data or information. As discussed above, Internet users are cautious about transmitting sensitive information over the Internet as such transmissions may be accessible by unauthorized individuals. Similar concerns apply to other sensitive information, including for example medical information, test scores, military security information, evidence in a legal proceeding (including testimony, exhibits, etc.), government documents, shipping, customs and inventory information, and the like  
         [0034]     Like the catalog shopping application described above, it is desirable to provide a vehicle capable of encrypting sensitive information and to generate a secure document for conveying the encrypted sensitive information. With the sensitive information in an encrypted format, generating and processing the secure document can be performed without Internet access. Once received by authorized individuals, the encoded information can be decoded to populate a database or the like with the sensitive information.  
         [0035]     While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalent elements may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention further includes any combination of the elements from the various embodiments set forth herein. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation to the teachings of the present invention without departing from its essential scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.