Internet third-party authentication using electronic tickets

Abstract

A method, software and apparatus facilitates one or more third-party agents to securely access a customer's or other first party's private personal and financial data or other such confidential information from a second party, preferably on the Internet. A security document or ticket is presented to the second party for verifying the customer's consent to grant such access to the third party. The second party only communicates such confidential information to the third party if the security document is found to be valid. The security document, which can be at least partially encrypted, can also include a preselected expiration time, beyond which it is not valid.

1 - 90 . (canceled)  
     
     
         101 . A method of creating an electronic document that describes a mutually agreed upon arrangement between at least three parties, the method comprising: 
 initiating a computer-generated electronic document by a party, wherein the electronic document resides within a computer system of at least one of the parties and the electronic document comprises verifying information from at least two of the parties to establish multiple-authorship of the electronic document,    adding expiration times to the electronic document by at least two of the parties, and    obtaining agreement of all of the parties to use the earliest expiration time of the electronic document.    
     
     
         102 . The method according to  claim 101 , wherein the electronic document is stored on a computer by at least one party.  
     
     
         103 . The method according to  claim 101 , wherein a third party has use of the electronic document for an unlimited number of times prior to expiration of the document.  
     
     
         104 . The method according to  claim 101 , wherein the electronic document further comprises a serial number.  
     
     
         105 . The method according to  claim 104 , wherein the serial number is used for auditing or tracking purposes.  
     
     
         106 . The method according to  claim 101 , wherein at least a portion of the electronic document is encrypted.  
     
     
         107 . The method according to  claim 106 , wherein at least a portion of the electronic document is symmetrically encrypted.  
     
     
         108 . The method according to  claim 106 , wherein at least a portion of the electronic document is asymmetrically encrypted.  
     
     
         109 . The method according to  claim 101 , wherein the electronic document comprises a digital signature of at least two of the parties.  
     
     
         110 . The method according to  claim 106 , wherein the encrypted portion is capable of decryption using an encryption key.