Patent ID: 7251632

Claim:
A method for printing a value bearing item (VBI) by a user using one or more computers connected to a computer network, the method comprising the steps of: registering by the user with an on-line system for printing the VBI; generating information specific to a first computer used by the user for registering with the on-line system, the information including a first hash message authentication key (HMK); encrypting the first HMK using a key derived from a user passphrase; storing the encrypted first HMK on the first computer; sending the encrypted first HMK from the first computer to a server system; storing the received encrypted first HMK on the server system; using a second computer by the user to logon to the on-line system; detecting that the second computer is missing an HMK; generating a second encrypted HMK specific to the second computer; sending the second encrypted HMK to the server system; requesting the user to provide the user passphrase to the server; authenticating at the server, the user on the second computer responsive to the passphrase and the second encrypted HMK; and printing the VBI by the user responsive to the authentication of the user by the server.