System and method for establishing and managing relationships between pseudonymous identifications and memberships in organizations

Abstract

A system and method for bonding a pseudonymous identity to an organization to provide assurance that a user claiming to be a member or representative of the organization may anonymously post messages or documents to electronic forum. The system and method includes distribution of tokens from an authentication authority to the organization which can then be provided by the organization to its members. Members register with the authentication authority and designate a pseudonym to associate with the organization and also provide the membership token as proof of membership in the organization.

1 - 31 . (canceled)  
   
   
       32 . A method of authenticating anonymous electronic votes cast by voters eligible to vote in an election, comprising the steps of: distributing a voter token from an authentication authority to an election authority; receiving at the authentication authority a communication comprising the voter token and an pseudonymous identity, said communication being sent from a voter eligible to vote in the election; associating at the authentication authority the pseudonymous identity with the election; providing the voter with a means for electronically signing an electronic vote using the pseudonymous identity; verifying that the electronic vote was electronically signed using the pseudonymous identity; and providing verification to the election authority that the pseudonymous identity is associated with a voter eligible to vote in the election.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the voter token comprises a unique string of alphabetical and numerical characters.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the voter token comprises an encoded identifier of the organization.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the step of associating the pseudonymous identity with the election comprises the steps of receiving a log-in by the voter on a computer system at the authentication authority; verifying a permission of the voter to manage the pseudonymous identity; and receiving the voter token from the voter.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising the steps of retrieving an identification of the election from a database comprising voter tokens and corresponding elections.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising the step registering the election with the authentication authority, and wherein in the step of distributing the voter token to the election authority is performed in response to the registering step.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the voter token comprises an expiration date.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising the step of verifying that the voter token has not expired before performing the step of associating the pseudonymous identity with the election.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the association of the pseudonymous identity with the election has a pre-determined life-span.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the pre-determined life-span corresponds to an election period.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the association of the pseudonymous identity with the election is valid for a pre-determined date range.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the pre-determined date range is an election date.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising the steps of receiving at the authentication authority a revocation notice from the election and removing the association of the pseudonymous identity with the election according to the revocation notice.  
   
   
       45 . A method for facilitating an electronic dating service providing anonymous communications between customers with verification that a particular customer is a member of a claimed class of customer, said method comprising the steps of distributing a membership token associated with a class of customers from the electronic dating service to a member of the class; 
 receiving at the electronic dating service a communication comprising the membership token and a pseudonymous identity, said communication being sent from the member of the class;    associating at the electronic dating service the pseudonymous identity with the class;    verifying that an anonymous communication was sent by a member of the class, wherein the anonymous communication was sent using; the pseudonym.    
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the membership token comprises a unique string of alphabetical and numerical characters.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the membership token comprises an encoded identifier of the class.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the step of associating the pseudonymous identity with the class comprises the steps of receiving a log-in by a user on a computer system at the electronic dating service; verifying a permission of the user to manage the pseudonymous identity; 
 and receiving the membership token from the user.    
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising the steps of retrieving an identification of the class from a database comprising membership tokens and corresponding classes.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising the step of decoding the membership token to determine the identity of the class to be associated with the pseudonymous identity.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising the step removing the association of the pseudonymous identity with the class.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  45 , further comprising the steps of providing the customer with a means for electronically signing the anonymous communication using the pseudonymous identity; 
 verifying that the anonymous communication was electronically signed using the pseudonymous identity; and    providing verification to a reader of the; anonymous communication that the pseudonymous identity is associated with the class.    
   
   
       53 - 57 . (canceled)