Systems, methods and devices for trusted transactions

Abstract

The invention discloses a system for enhancing trust in transactions, most particularly in remote transactions between a plurality of transactional parties, for instance a seller and buyer(s) of goods and/or services over a public computer network such as the internet. Trust is disclosed to be a multivalent commodity, in that the trust that is to be enhanced relates to information about the subject matter of the transactions (e.g., the suitability of the goods and services sold), the bona fides of the supplier of the goods and services, the appropriateness of a pricing structure for a particular transaction or series of transactions, a quantum of additional transactional value that may be imparted to the transactional relationship, security of information exchange, etc.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method for conducting a trusted transaction between two of a plurality of parties who have reached an agreement to transact, comprising:
 establishing a secure transmission channel between the two parties;   approving an identity of at least one of the two parties;   determining an amount of value-added information to be exchanged between the parties, the value-added information comprising a plurality of value-adding components;   verifying the agreement to transact; and   transmitting the value-added information.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of approving an identity of at least one of the two parties comprises:
 at least one of the parties verifying at least one value-adding component.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of approving an identity of at least one of the two parties comprises:
 at least one of the parties authorizing at least one value-adding component.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of approving an identity of at least one of the two parties comprises:
 at least one of the parties authenticating at least one value-adding component.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of establishing a secure transmission channel between two of a plurality of parties comprises:
 exchanging data between the two parties;   selecting a pre-determined key to exchange over the secure transmission channel; and   securing the transmission channel by at least one of a password, a pass phrase entry, a query to a user, and real-time biometric data transfer.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of approving an identity of at least one of the two parties comprises:
 exchanging a value-adding component for each party to the other party.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of approving an identity of at least one of the two parties comprises:
 at least one of the parties independently verifying a value-adding component of the other party.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein a bandwidth of the primary value added information comprises a description including at least one of a bandwidth requirement for transmission, a bandwidth requirement for storage, and a bandwidth requirement for playback. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein at least one term for the exchange of primary value-added information is negotiated between parties, the terms selected from the group consisting of an offer, an acceptance, and consideration. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one term changes in real time. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein access to the at least one term is restricted by at least one of a pass phrase, a password, a correct answer to a query, a real time authentication with a biometric, a real time authentication with personal entropy information, real time telemetry data, and access to additional transaction records. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one term is referenced by a subsequent transaction. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one term is access restricted by a provider of at least one value-adding component. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one term is traced by a provider of at least one value-adding component. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one term is authenticated by a provider of at least one value-adding component. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one term is accessed for at least one of verification, authentication, and authorization. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one term comprises at least one of readable text, visible color, voice command, and visual instructions. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one term comprises humanly perceptible information. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the value-added information is convertible into a tangible good. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising verifying the value added information. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising authenticating the value added information. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the value-adding components comprise at least one of an equity purchase right, an option, a warrant, and a security instrument. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the value-adding components comprise a non-cash service. 
     
     
         43 . A method for conducting at least one trusted transaction between at least two parties, comprising:
 authenticating the at least two parties;   agreeing to a security of a transmission channel;   exchanging secondary value-added information;   determining at least one term for a primary value-added information exchange; and   facilitating payment for the transaction based on the terms.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the step of facilitating payment for the transaction is accomplished in real-time. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the at least one term includes micropayment systems. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the transaction is governed by at least one of legal restrictions that apply to at least one of the parties, a timing of the transaction, a geographic location of the transaction, and value-added information. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the value-added information is represented physically. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the secondary value-added information comprises at least one of an equity option and at least one term from a previous trusted transaction. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the secondary value-added information derives benefit from a previous trusted transaction. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the at least two trusted transactions are substantially contiguous. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the at least two trusted transactions have at least one of a time or an event limitation. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising the step of:
 agreeing to at least one term for a different transaction.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the first trusted transaction enables manipulation of information in a subsequent transaction. 
     
     
         54 - 67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . A method for bi-directionally exchanging value-added information between at least two parties, comprising:
 associating a plurality of unique identifiers with the value-added information, the value-added information including at least one of a digital watermark, a file header, a file attachment, and a file wrapper;   associating each of the at least two parties with unique identifiers, the unique identifiers including at least one of a digital watermark, a file header, a file attachment, and a file wrapper; and   exchanging value-added information between the at least two parties.   
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the transaction and the unique identifiers are stored for subsequent reference. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein unique identifiers are access restricted by at least one pre-determined rule. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the unique identifiers are asymmetrically access restricted. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein the access restriction is dependent on verification of a querying party. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein the access restriction allows value added information to be transmitted in an altered format. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising the step of:
 associating the bi-directional exchange of value-added information with a subsequent exchange of additional value-added information.   
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the additional value-added information is governed by at least one separate term. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the additional value-added information comprises a right to purchase equity in at least one of the parties to the transaction. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising the step of agreeing to at least one term for a subsequent transaction. 
     
     
         78 - 186 . (canceled) 
     
     
         187 . A certification authority, comprising a computer system including a CPU and a memory storing a database, said database storing certification information;
 said certification authority designed to respond to communications received via the Internet;   said certification authority designed to receive, from an Internet network address, in association with one another, a watermark and a public key, make an authenticity determination based there upon; and   transmit a response to said Internet network address resulting from said authenticity determination.