Secure electronic transactions using a trusted intermediary

Abstract

Secure electronic transactions using a Trusted Intermediary. A system for, and method of, securely transmitting a package from a sender to a recipient, via an intermediary, are described, along with a novel data arrangement, stored in a computer-readable medium. A sender encrypts the message to form an encrypted inner envelope. A waybill is formed that among other things identifies the recipient as the destination and includes information indicating various levels of services desired, e.g., electronic notarization. The waybill and inner envelope are used to form an encrypted outer envelope that is addressed to a trusted intermediary. The intermediary receives the package and decrypts the outer envelope. It is unable to decrypt the inner envelope, due to the keys employed during encryption. The service information is processed, and the package is used to form a second package addressed to the recipient. The recipient decrypts the package and confirms receipt thereof, using a digest of the message. In this way, receipt of the message cannot be properly repudiated by the recipient. An extra level of encryption to form an outer envelope from the intermediary to the recipient may be included, and the various envelopes and confirmation digests may be signed so that the contents and identities may be authenticated.