Patent ID: 6931549

Claim:
In a computer system, a method for securing access to data, comprising: generating a first message at a first computer system, said first message comprising information corresponding to data, and transmitting said first message to a second computer system; receiving said first message at said second computer system, and generating a key pair comprising an encode key and a decode key for encoding and decoding of said data; generating a second message comprising said encode key, and transmitting said second message to said first computer system; receiving said second message at said first computer system, wherein said encode key in said second message is used to encode said data; providing access to said encoded data by: generating a third message at said first computer system, said third message comprising information identifying said encoded data, said user information, and a digital signature; transmitting said third message to said second computer system; receiving said third message at said second computer system; using said information in said third message to retrieve a record corresponding to said encoded data, said record comprising said decode key for decoding said encoded data; verifying a stored digital signature in said corresponding record with said digital signature in said third message; upon successful verification, generating a data retrieval time stamp and storing said data retrieval time stamp; generating a fourth message comprising said decode key, and transmitting said fourth message to said first computer system; and receiving said fourth message at said first computer system, wherein said decode key in said fourth message is utilized to decode said encoded data.