Transient Transaction Server

Abstract

A networked computer system enables one or more transactions to be executed securely. An initiator sends a service request to a control server. The control server creates or selects an existing transaction server for the sole purpose of executing the transaction requested by the service request. If the transaction server is pre-existing, it may be in an inaccessible state and then be made accessible in response to receiving the service request. The control server informs the initiator of the created transaction server. The initiator (and possibly one or more other authorized participants) engages in the transaction with the transaction server, independently of the control server. The transaction server terminates, such as upon completion of the transaction, the expiration of a timeout period, or satisfaction of another server termination criterion. The use of such a one-time transaction server increases security, privacy, and anonymity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for use with a transaction server, the transaction server being unaddressable over a network, the method comprising:
 (A) receiving, over a network at a control server, from an initiator, a request to execute a transaction;   (B) making the transaction server addressable in response to the request;   (C) providing the initiator with information about the transaction server, including an address of the transaction server; and   (D) using the transaction server to execute the transaction independently of the control server.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (B) comprises:
 at the control server, making the transaction server addressable in response to the request.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (E) assigning an IP address to the transaction server in response to the request.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (E) after (B), provisioning a new transaction server;   (F) making the new transaction server unaddressable over the network.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (E) in response to determining that a server termination criterion has been satisfied,   terminating the transaction server.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (E) before (B), selecting the transaction server from a plurality of transaction servers.   
     
     
         7 . A system comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium, the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer program instructions executable by at least one computer processor to execute a method, the method comprising:
 (A) receiving, over a network at a control server, from an initiator, a request to execute a transaction;   (B) making the transaction server addressable in response to the request;   (C) providing the initiator with information about the transaction server, including an address of the transaction server; and   (D) using the transaction server to execute the transaction independently of the control server.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein (B) comprises:
 at the control server, making the transaction server addressable in response to the request.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:
 (E) assigning an IP address to the transaction server in response to the request.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:
 (E) after (B), provisioning a new transaction server;   (F) making the new transaction server unaddressable over the network.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:
 (E) in response to determining that a server termination criterion has been satisfied,   terminating the transaction server.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:
 (E) before (B), selecting the transaction server from a plurality of transaction servers.