Apparatus and methods for the secure transfer of electronic data

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention provides a method for processing a secure electronic transaction over a network from a sender to a receiver, which includes the process of generating a first unique representation of information included in the transaction, encrypting the information with a first encryption layer, and forming an encryption packet which includes the first encryption layer. The encryption packet is then transmitted over a network and then received the by a receiver. The authenticity of the encryption packet is verified and a receipt is generated using the information included in the encryption packet. The receipt is then transmitted to an electronic postmark server which verifies authenticity of the receipt. A postmarked receipt is then created by the electronic postmark server and a copy is sent to the sender an/or the receiver.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for processing a secure electronic transaction over a network from a sender to a receiver, comprising:
 generating a first unique representation of information included in the transaction;   encrypting the information with a first encryption layer;   forming an encryption packet which includes the first encryption layer;   transmitting the encryption packet over a network;   receiving the encryption packet by a receiver;   verifying an authenticity of the encryption packet;   generating a receipt using information included in the encryption packet;   transmitting the receipt to an electronic postmark server;   verifying an authenticity of the receipt by the electronic postmark server;   creating a postmarked receipt by the electronic postmark server; and   sending a copy of the postmarked receipt to at least one of the sender and the receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming the encryption packet further comprises:
 signing the first unique representation and the first encryption layer with a first digital signature.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein verifying the authenticity of the encryption packet further comprises:
 verifying the authenticity of the first digital signature.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating a receipt further comprises:
 signing the first unique representation with a second digital signature.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein verifying the authenticity of the receipt further comprises:
 verifying the authenticity of the second digital signature.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating a postmarked receipt further comprises:
 generating a second unique representation of the encryption packet;   appending a temporal stamp to the second unique representation; and   digitally signing the second unique representation and the temporal stamp.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming the encryption packet further comprises:
 encrypting the encryption packet in a second encryption layer.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein verifying the authenticity of the first digital signature further comprises:
 sending the first digital signature to a validation authority; and   receiving verification at the receiver of the validity of the first digital signature.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving the postmarked receipt at the receiver; and   decrypting the first encryption layer in the encryption packet.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: receiving the postmarked receipt at the sender.