Abstract:
A system and method for transferring an encrypted file over the Internet involves a seller, a buyer, and a transaction agent. The file has a first part (administrative information) and a second part (subject-matter content) that are respectively encrypted with first and second encryption/decryption non-public keys. In operation, the appropriate key is released by the seller or the transaction agent for respective use by either the transaction agent or the buyer, to decrypt and reveal the second part of the file to the buyer.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/728,361 filed Dec. 1, 2000, which is currently pending. The contents of application Ser. No. 09/728,361 are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention pertains generally to systems and methods for conducting secure commercial transactions in e-commerce on the internet. More particularly, the present invention pertains to systems and methods for encrypting a file before it is to be sold by a seller, and then revealing the file for subsequent use by a buyer. The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, useful for conducting an Internet transaction wherein a predetermined combination of encryption/decryption keys are employed to encrypt and decrypt the content of the file.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Artists, when they want to sell their work products, are like any other seller in a marketplace. They desire to be somehow compensated for their efforts. The work product of an artist, however, unlike many other kinds of work products, has value primarily because of the unique expression that is given to the particular work by the artist. Unfortunately, this expression is often susceptible to being copied. This is so regardless of the particular type of work product involved; whether it be a literary work, a musical work, a dramatic work, a pictorial work, an audiovisual work, a sound recording or a work in some other form.  
           [0004]    An ever-present problem for the artist/author of a publishable work has been how best to offer the work to an audience. More specifically, the concern has been for how to offer the work product in a manner that will ensure the artist is appropriately compensated for his/her endeavors. Heretofore, many artists have relied on publishing houses in order to commercially offer their respective works to the public. This, of course, assumes the artist/author is able to interest the publishing house in the work product, and the publishing house determines the work product is commercially viable. If the work is published, the publishing houses have taken control over the marketing of the artist&#39;s work and, not surprisingly, have done so on terms favorable to the publishing house. In such arrangements, the artist&#39;s compensation has normally been in the form of royalties that are paid to the artist by the publishing house. Typically, these royalties have somehow been based on sales of the work in the marketplace. The marketplace as it was once known, however, has changed with the advent of the Internet.  
           [0005]    As it has developed over recent years, the Internet provides a new and distinctive marketplace for an artist. Specifically, from the perspective of an artist/author, electronic publishing on the Internet provides a unique opportunity in at least two important respects. First, standard Web page publication tools are now available that enable an artist to individually prepare his/her own work product for publication on the Internet. Second, all or a part of the artist&#39;s published work product can be encrypted. Further, insofar as encryption is concerned, there are two types of keys that are useful for the purpose of protecting information. One type of key is a “public” key, the other is a “private” key.  
           [0006]    In general, a “public” key involves a system for generating encrypted messages in which only the intended recipient can decode the messages. This will be so even though the encryption key is made public. More specifically, this “public” key is in two parts and includes an encryption key, as its first part, which can be used to encrypt, encode or otherwise alter a message. The second part of the “public” key is a decryption key that, in effect, is a secret counterpart of the encryption part of the public key. Importantly, only an intended recipient of the message can use the decryption key to decrypt, decode, restore or otherwise reveal the message. On the other hand, unlike the “public” key, a “private” key (sometimes referred to as a “local” key) involves a system for generating encrypted messages in which any recipient having the encryption key can also decode the messages. Private keys are generally well known in the pertinent art, and they can be either so-called “symmetric” keys or “asymmetric” keys.  
           [0007]    It happens that “symmetric” private keys are far more widely used than are the “asymmetric” or “non-symmetric” type of private keys. This is so primarily because “asymmetric” keys require one key for encryption, and another key for decryption. “Symmetric” private keys, on the other hand, are characterized by the fact the same key can be used to both encrypt and decrypt a file or message. When using a “symmetric” key, the decryption operation may be the same as the encryption operation, or it may be different. For example, in the specific case wherein the encryption operation is the same as the decryption operation, two successive encryption operations will return a file or message to its original form. In any event, it is important to note that an encryption/decryption operation using a “symmetric” (i.e. non-public) key has a distinct advantage over the operation of a “public” key in that, in general, it is computationally relatively less expensive.  
           [0008]    In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method which allows an artist/author to publish an encrypted work using a predetermined combination of non-public encryption/decryption keys. Another object of the present invention is to require the decryption of a work, using one key, in a manner that enables the direct payment of compensation from the audience (buyer) to the artist (seller) in a secure and essentially instantaneous transaction. It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and method for decrypting an encrypted, two-part work (file) which allows the artist (seller) to publish works on the Internet using standard publication tools. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for decrypting an encrypted work in a manner that diminishes the economic incentive for copying the work. Another object of the present invention is to provide systems and methods for a secured commercial transaction that facilitate the sale of a work product on the Internet by allowing the artist (seller) to place his account number and price, together with the work product, in a single file that is functional beyond the control of the artist. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for decrypting an encrypted work that is simple to implement, easy to use, and comparatively very cost effective.  
         SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
         [0009]    In accordance with the present invention, a system and a method for conducting secured commercial transactions over the Internet involves a buyer, a seller, and a transaction agency. More specifically, the transaction agency facilitates and enables completion of a commercial transaction between the seller (artist) and the buyer (audience). In accordance with the present invention, the subject matter of this transaction can be information that is revealed and directly downloaded from the Internet by the buyer. Additionally, it can be an invoice which is evidence of a collateral transaction between the buyer and the seller or a document showing proof-of-payment. In any case, the concepts of the present invention are applicable.  
           [0010]    The file that is created by the seller contains at least two mandatory parts. These are an overhead and a content. It should be noted, however, that the file may also contain a clear-text header as an optional third part. Importantly, the overhead part of the file is encrypted by the seller using a public key that is provided to the seller by the transaction agent. Thus, even though the overhead is encrypted by the seller, in accordance with the present invention only the transaction agent might be capable of decrypting or decoding the overhead. Alternatively, the overhead part of the file can be encrypted by the seller using a private, non-public key. If this is done, each seller will normally have his/her own unique, private, non-public key. Importantly, whenever a non-public key is used for this purpose in the system of the present invention, both the seller and the transaction agent will need to know the key. It will also happen that when non-public keys are being used by various sellers to encrypt their respective overheads and contents, several different non-public keys will likely be involved. Thus, the transaction agent will need to keep track of the keys, and may be required to use the clear-text header of each file to determine which particular private key is being used.  
           [0011]    As contemplated for the present invention, the overhead of the file will include commercial material about the file, such as pricing and payment terms. Also, it may contain such information as the minimum allowed payment, the file name, and the seller&#39;s accounting identification. Further, the overhead may also contain the number of times the content may be decrypted, an expiration date, and the buyer&#39;s account identification in the event the file is intended for a single buyer. Most importantly, the overhead will also include a private key which must be used by a potential buyer to decrypt the content part of the file.  
           [0012]    As implied above, in addition to the encryption of the overhead part of the file (using either a public key, or a non-public key), the content part of the file is also encrypted. The content part of the file, however, is encrypted using a private key. As contemplated for the present invention, the content part of the file will include the particular work or works being sold for value by the seller. Examples of the content part of the file include: books, documents, pamphlets, movies, songs, games, pictures, software, or passwords. Additionally, the content may also include such information as Internet search results, coupons, proof-of-purchase codes, passwords, private Internet URL&#39;s, and answers to questions.  
           [0013]    It was noted above that not all of the file needs to be encrypted. Unlike either the overhead part of the file or the content part of the file, the header of the file can be in clear text and will not be encrypted. This, of course, is done to allow the potential buyer to see and evaluate information contained in the file. For this purpose, the header can include advertising and informational material about the content of the file, samples of the content and suggested prices, as well as informational material about the seller. Further, the header can include actual portions of the content of the file.  
           [0014]    In the operation of the systems and methods of the present invention, the seller creates a file (header, overhead and content) that is presented on an Internet website or in some other marketing venue. For this presentation, the seller encrypts the content part of the file with a local key that is under the control of the seller. Also, the seller encrypts the overhead part of the file with a public key that is obtained by the seller from the transaction agency and is under the control of the transaction agency. Alternatively, the seller can encrypt the overhead part of the file using his/her own unique non-public (private) key. When this is done, it is important that the transaction agent also has the key that is being used by the seller. Further, it is important that the transaction agent also has the ability to distinguish the key that is being used by a particular seller from similar keys that are being used by other sellers. Recall, the overhead part of the file also includes the seller&#39;s private key that will subsequently be used to decrypt the content part of the file.  
           [0015]    After the overhead and the content parts of the file have been encrypted, the seller then presents the clear text header of his/her file to the scrutiny of potential buyers in the marketplace. It is to be noted at this point that the seller presents the whole file to the marketplace. This includes, the header, the overhead and the content. Only the header, however, can be read even though the whole file is available to everyone. Further, in this condition, the file may be downloaded and traded without incurring any monetary transaction, and without revealing any content.  
           [0016]    When a buyer has decided to purchase a particular content from the seller, the buyer will “click on” a link to the file (e.g. a logo at the website) to notify the transaction agency of his/her intention to purchase the file. The transaction agency will then decrypt the overhead part of the file that was encrypted with its public key (or a specific private key provided by the seller for this purpose) to reveal the seller&#39;s private key that will be used to decrypt the content of the file. This private key is then used to decrypt or decode the content part of the file. As envisioned by the present invention this decryption of the content can be accomplished either directly by the buyer, or it can be accomplished by the transaction agent who will then send the decrypted file to the buyer.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the respective parties to a transaction that is accomplished in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the component parts of a file (object) that is published by an artist (seller) for a transaction that is to be accomplished in accordance with the methods of the present invention; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a time-line representation of the actions that are to be taken by participating parties during a transaction as it is to be accomplished in accordance with the methods of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]    Referring initially to FIG. 1, a schematic representation of a transaction group, that includes the respective parties to a commercial transaction as it is to be accomplished in accordance with the present invention, is shown and is generally designated  10 . As shown, the group  10  essentially includes a transaction agency  12 , a seller  14  and an buyer  16 . Further, it is indicated in FIG. 1 that the transaction agency  12  effectively controls a buyer&#39;s account  18 , and a seller&#39;s account  20 .  
         [0022]    Still referring to FIG. 1, it is shown for a preferred embodiment of the present invention that each of the parties in the group  10  (i.e. transaction agency  12 , seller  14  and buyer  16 ) are connected in communication with the Internet  22 . These communication connections with the Internet  22  are respectively indicated in FIG. 1 by arrow  24  (transaction agency  12 ), arrow  26  (seller  14 ), and arrow  28  (buyer  16 ). It is envisioned for the present invention that, instead of using the Internet  22 , communication between the various parties of group  10  can be conducted by other means well known in the pertinent art, such as by land line or wireless telephone connections. The arrow  30  between transaction agency  12  and the seller  14 , as well as the arrow  32  between the transaction agency  12  and the buyer  16  are both exemplary of such connections.  
         [0023]    In FIG. 2, a representative schematic of a file (object) that is created by the seller  14  in accordance with the present invention, is shown and is generally designated  34 . Specifically, the component parts of the file  34  are a header  36 , an overhead  38  and a content  40 . As envisioned for the present invention, the header  36  will include public material and will remain in clear text. Thus, the header  36  will not be encrypted and will be presented for perusal and consideration by a potential buyer  16 . Further, using hyper-text markup language, (commonly known as HTML), the header  36  may be written to display fancy images or creative and colorful advertisement to the potential buyer  16 . More specifically, the header  36  can include advertising and informational material about the seller  14  and his/her work product. For example, the header  36  can include the title of a work, its table of contents, an introduction to the work and, perhaps, even selected portions of the work. By way of further example, such selections may include portions of a poem, or the first thirty seconds of a song. In any event, as indicated above, it is envisioned that the header  36  will not be encrypted and will be presented in clear text for perusal and consideration by a potential buyer  16 .  
         [0024]    Unlike the header  36 , both the overhead  38  and the content  40  of the file  34  are to be encrypted. Specifically, the overhead  38  is to be encrypted using either a public key or a private (non-public) key, and the content  40  is to be encrypted using a private key. Within the encrypted overhead  38  there will be general information about the pricing and payment terms that are established by the seller  14  for the conduct of the commercial transaction. Most importantly, the overhead  38  will include the private key that will eventually be used by a potential buyer  16  for decrypting the content  40 . The content  40  of the file  34  will then include the actual work product that is being presented by the seller  14  for sale to the buyer  16 . Recall, this all may be done on either the Internet  22  or in any other convenient marketing venue.  
         [0025]    The actual operation of the methods and system of the present invention will be best appreciated with reference to FIG. 3. Specifically, FIG. 3 presents a time line  42  for the actions that are to be taken by the various parties of group  10  during a transaction in accordance with the present invention. As indicated in FIG. 3, it is first necessary for the seller  14  to create the file  34  (FIG. 2). Then, unless previously accomplished, the seller  14  will open the seller&#39;s account  20  with the transaction agency  12 . This action is indicated in FIG. 3 by the arrow  44 . When the seller&#39;s account  20  is opened, the seller  14  will receive administrative information from the transaction agency  12 , and the transaction agency  12  will provide the seller  14  with a public key as indicated by the arrow  46 . Recall, a “public” key is an encryption/decryption device for generating encrypted messages. The public key is unique, however, in that only the intended recipient can decode the messages. This will be so even though the encryption key is made public. For the present invention, the intended recipient is the transaction agency  12 .  
         [0026]    As an alternative to using a public key for encryption of the overhead  38 , the present invention also envisions the use of a private (non-public) key for this purpose. More specifically, when the seller  14  chooses not to use a public key provided by the transaction agency  12 , the seller  14  may use his/her own private (non-public) key to encrypt the overhead  38 . It is important, however, that the transaction agency  12  knows when such a key is being used by the seller  14  for the overhead  38 . Also, it is important that the transaction agency  12  have access to the key. Specifically, the transaction agency  12  and the seller  14  need to agree upon the use of a private (non-public) key prior to its use for encryption of the overhead  38 . Moreover, if various sellers  14  are using private (non-public) keys to encrypt the overheads  38  of their respective files  34 , it will be necessary that the transaction agency  12  have the ability to determine which particular private (non-public) key is being used for each particular overhead  38 .  
         [0027]    Upon receipt of the public key from the transaction agency  12 , the seller  14  will then encrypt the file  34 , if he/she has not already done so using a private (non-public) key. Specifically, the seller  14  will use the public key, or an agreed upon private (non-public) key, to encrypt the overhead  38 . The seller  14 , however, will use a private key to encrypt selected portions, or all, of the content  40 . It is important to realize that, whenever a private (non-public) key is being used to encrypt the overhead  38 , the private key that is subsequently used to encrypt the content  40  will most likely, but not necessarily, be a different key. In either case, the header  36  remains in clear text. As indicated by the arrow  48  in FIG. 3, the file  34  is then presented on the Internet  22  for possible purchase by a buyer  16 .  
         [0028]    Once the work product (e.g. file  34 ) of the seller  14  has been published and offered for sale on the Internet  22 , the potential buyer  16  is able to peruse the clear-text header  36  to determine whether he/she desires to purchase the content  40 . If so, the buyer  16  will “click on” the file  34 , or they will otherwise manifest their intent to purchase the content  40  of file  34 . At this time, unless earlier accomplished, the buyer  16  opens the buyer&#39;s account  18  with the transaction agency  12 . This action is identified in FIG. 3 by the arrow  50  and it can be accomplished in any of several ways well known in the art, such as by telephone, written correspondence, or over the Internet  22 . Subsequently, assuming that the buyer  16  has been successful in opening or establishing a viable buyer&#39;s account  18  with the transaction agency  12 , several actions are taken by the transaction agency  12 .  
         [0029]    The time line  42  in FIG. 3 indicates that after a buyer  16  has indicated a desire to purchase the content  40  of file  34 , the transaction agency  12  will then decode or decrypt the overhead  38 . To do this, the transaction agency  12  uses the public key that was earlier provided to the seller  14  for encryption of the overhead  38 . Recall, only the transaction agency  12  is capable of using the public key for decryption of the overhead  38 . As also indicated above, when the overhead  38  has been encrypted using a private (non-public) key, in accordance with a prior arrangement between the transaction agency  12  and the seller  14 , the transaction agency  12  will decode or decrypt the overhead  38  using the private (non-public) key. Thus, after decrypting the overhead  38 , the transaction agency  12  can then send pricing and payment terms to the buyer  16  (indicated by arrow  52  in FIG. 3). The buyer  16  may then approve or cancel the transaction. Alternatively, the buyer  16  may forward a bid to the transaction agency  12  along with the overhead  38 . If approved, the transaction agency  12  will debit the buyer&#39;s account  18  and credit the seller&#39;s account  20  with whatever value has been determined by the various parties of the transaction group  10  in their respective dealings with each other.  
         [0030]    The final actions that will be taken to complete the transaction envisioned by the present invention, are to decrypt and reveal the content  40  of the file  34  to the buyer  16 . This can be done in several ways. Preferably, once the transaction agency  12  has decoded the overhead  38  (which includes the private key that will be used to decode the content  40 ) the transaction agency  12  will transfer the private key to the buyer  16 . The buyer  16  is then able to directly decode or decrypt the content  40  with the private key. Alternatively, after the buyer  16  has indicated his/her desire to purchase the content  40  of file  34 , and the buyer&#39;s account  18  has been opened, the transaction agency  12  can decode or decrypt the content  40  of file  34 . The decrypted content  40  will then be sent from the transaction agency  12  to the buyer  16 . In yet another variation, instead of being the actual work product of the seller  14 , the content  40  can be an invoice or a proof-of-payment code, to be presented to the seller  14 , that is evidence of a collateral transfer of merchandise. In such a case, the work product of the seller  14  will, most likely, be transported to the buyer  16  by a carrier  54  (see FIG. 1).  
         [0031]    While the particular Secured Purchasing System as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.