Securely processing exchange items in a data communication system

Abstract

A data communication system comprises an enterprise storage and an enterprise server. The enterprise storage includes an exchange item database, an agreements database, and a rules database. The enterprise server operably coupled to the enterprise storage, wherein the enterprise server is operable to validate exchange items and create records in the exchange item database for validated exchange items. The enterprise server is further operable to securely transfer a selected exchange item from a first computing device to a second computing device. The enterprise server is further operable to authorize utilization of the selected exchange item in accordance with an agreement of the agreements database. The enterprise server is further operable to securely modify the data of the selected exchange item in accordance with rules from the rules database to produce an updated record regarding the selected exchange item and store the updated record in the exchange item database.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A data communication system comprises:
 enterprise storage that stores:
 an exchange item database; 
 an agreements database; 
 a rules database; and 
   an enterprise server operably coupled to the enterprise storage, wherein the enterprise server includes:
 a network interface; 
 memory; and 
 a processing module operably coupled to the network interface and the memory, wherein the processing module is operable to:
 validate exchange items and create records in the exchange item database for validated exchange items, wherein each of the exchange items includes data regarding a serial number and issuance information; 
 securely transfer, in accordance with a secure custody protocol, a selected exchange item from a first computing device to a second computing device; 
 authorize utilization of the selected exchange item within the data communication system in accordance with an agreement of the agreements database; and 
 securely modify the data of the selected exchange item in accordance with an applicable set of rules from the rules database to produce an updated record regarding the selected exchange item; and 
 store the updated record in the exchange item database. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The data communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the exchange item database comprises one or more of:
 an exchange item identifier field;   an issuer identifier field;   a current owner identifier field;   an exchange item information field; and   a conditions field.   
     
     
         3 . The data communication system of  claim 2 , wherein the exchange item database further comprises one or more of:
 a rules identifier field;   a use options field;   a control field;   a location field;   a status field; and   a transaction field.   
     
     
         4 . The data communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the agreements database comprises one or more of:
 an issuer identifier field;   a recipient entity identifier field; and   an agreement identifier field.   
     
     
         5 . The data communication system of  claim 4 , wherein the agreements database further comprises an exchange item type field. 
     
     
         6 . The data communication system of  claim 4 , wherein the agreements database further comprises a rules identifier field. 
     
     
         7 . The data communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the rules database comprises one or more of:
 an issuer identifier field; and   a rule set field.   
     
     
         8 . The data communication system of  claim 7 , wherein the rules database further comprises an exchange item type field. 
     
     
         9 . The data communication system of  claim 7 , wherein the rules database further comprises a rules applicability field. 
     
     
         10 . The data communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing module is further operable to:
 establish, via the network interface, a secure communication link with a trusted issuing server;   receive, via the network interface, the data of an exchange item from the trusted issuing server in accordance with the secure custody protocol;   establish the enterprise server as having secure custody of the exchange item; and   create a record in the exchange item database for the exchange item.   
     
     
         11 . The data communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing module is further operable to:
 receive, via the network interface, a request to transfer a particular exchange item of the exchange items for a first computing device;   verify that the first computing device has secure custody of the particular exchange item in accordance with a secure custody protocol;   when the first computing device has secure custody of the particular exchange item, verify the data of the particular exchange item; and   when the data of the exchange item is verified, allow transfer of the particular exchange item to a second computing device of the data communication system.   
     
     
         12 . The data communication system of  claim 11 , wherein the processing module is further operable to:
 receive, via the network interface and from the second computing device, a request to acquire the particular exchange;   authenticate the second computing device; and   when the second computing device is authenticated, transfer secure custody of the particular exchange item from the first computing device to the second computing device in accordance with the secure custody protocol.   
     
     
         13 . The data communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing module is further operable to:
 receive, via the network interface from a computing device, a request to utilize a particular exchange item of the exchange items in a particular digital transaction with a recipient entity server;   access the agreements database to determine whether an agreement exists between an issuing server of the particular exchange item and the recipient entity server;   when the agreement exists, determine whether the particular digital transaction is in accordance with the agreement; and   when the particular digital transaction is in accordance with the agreement, authorize the particular digital transaction.   
     
     
         14 . The data communication system of  claim 13 , wherein the processing module is further operable to:
 when the agreement does not exist or the particular digital transaction is not in accordance with the agreement, deny the particular digital transaction.   
     
     
         15 . The data communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing module is further operable to:
 obtain condition information of a computing device having secure custody of a particular exchange item;   obtain rules of an applicable set of rules associated with the particular exchange item from the rules database;   compare the condition information with the rules of the applicable set of rules;   when the condition information compares favorably with the rules of the applicable set of rules:
 obtain secure custody of the particular exchange item from the computing device in accordance with the secure custody protocol; 
 while having secure custody, modify the data of the particular exchange item in accordance with the rules of the applicable set of rules to produce a modified exchange item; and 
 transfer secure custody of the modified exchange item to the computing device. 
   
     
     
         16 . The data communication system of  claim 1  further comprises:
 the enterprise storage further stores a user database, wherein the user database includes one or more of:
 a user identifier field; 
 an exchange item acquisition information field; 
 an exchange item use information field; and 
 an exchange item transfer information field; and 
 
 the processing module is further operable to:
 access a record in the user database of a user associated with a computing device; 
 access one or more of the exchange item database, the agreements database, and the rules database to identify one or more exchange items of interest to the user; and 
 send, via the network interface, a message to the computing device regarding the one or more exchange items of interest. 
 
 
     
     
         17 . The data communication system of  claim 1  further comprises:
 a plurality of computing devices, wherein a computing device of the plurality of computing devices stores a user exchange item database that comprises one or more of:
 an exchange item identifier field; 
 an issuer identifier field; and 
 an exchange item information field. 
 
 
     
     
         18 . The data communication system of  claim 17 , wherein the user exchange item database further comprises a use options field. 
     
     
         19 . The data communication system of  claim 18 , wherein the user exchange item database further comprises one or more of:
 a control field; and   a location field.   
     
     
         20 . The data communication system of  claim 18 , wherein the user exchange item database further comprises one or more of:
 a status field; and   a transaction field.