Abstract: A system for facilitating a transaction between a first party and a second party is controlled by a trusted third party system and is programmed to carry out the method by receiving the first party's instructions for fulfilling at least a part of the first party's obligations in said transaction. The system communicates with the second party and provides the second party with perceptible assurance that the second party is in communication with a trusted third party system through the system. The system transmits information to the second party to provide assurance that the first party's instructions have been or will be fulfilled. Thus trust in the third party is transferred to the first party and the second party can trust that the first party's obligations have been or will be fulfilled.

Abstract: A method includes scanning a check to generate image data representative of an image of the check. The method further includes detecting at least one security feature of the check. The method also includes transforming the image data to include at least one encoded indication of the detected at least one security feature of the check.

Abstract: Systems and methods for increasing user trust by authenticating an electronic commerce server over an electronic communications channel using information received through an out-of-band communication in a physical communications channel are described. In one configuration, a paper bill is sent to a user by physical mail delivery and it includes challenge and response data used to authenticate the electronic commerce server over the electronic communications channel.

Abstract: A method, and deterministic random bit generator system operating in accordance with the method, for generating cryptographic keys and similar secret cryptographic inputs which are hard to guess. A seed is input from an entropy source; and an initial state is generated as a function of the seed. When a request to generate a cryptographic key is received a current state, where the current state is initially the initial state, is mixed to generate an out put string and a next state and the current state is set to the next state. The requested cryptographic key is generated from the string; and output. These steps can be repeated to generate successive output strings with assurance of forward and backward secrecy. An encryption system including such a generator is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and deterministic random bit generator system operating in accordance with the method, for generating cryptographic keys and similar secret cryptographic inputs which are hard to guess. A entropy is input from an entropy source; and an initial seed is generated as a function of the entropy input. When a request to generate a cryptographic key is received a temporary seed is generated by applying the function to the seed. The requested cryptographic key is generated by applying a second function to the temporary seed; and output. A new seed is then generated by applying a third function to the temporary seed. In one embodiment of the subject invention all three functions are carried out by applying the same operator to appropriate inputs. In another embodiment of the subject invention new entropy is incorporated into the seed from time to time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for embedding information in an image during relative movement between a print medium and an ink jet print head is provided. A plurality of first lines are printed and a plurality of second lines are printed. Each of the first lines includes a plurality of first dots and a plurality of second dots offset from the first dots by a first amount, and each of the second lines includes a plurality of third dots and a plurality of fourth dots offset from the third dots by a second amount different than the first amount. The information is encoded in the image using an encoding scheme in which the first lines represent a first value in the encoding scheme and the second lines represent a second value in the encoding scheme.

Abstract: A method for exchange of information I over a communications link, a communications system including a data processor for carrying out the method, and computer readable media for providing program code to the data processor. The system receives a signal transmitted over the link, the signal being generated in accordance with a braid group based cryptosystem; transforming the signal to obtain a word expressive of a braid in Bn, braid encoding the information; and transforming the word into a word in novel standard form to recover the information. Word is represented by arrays a[m], a[m] in {0, 1, . . . , n?1}, and p[m], p[m] in {?1, 1}, and transforming the word to a standard form includes: inputting the arrays a[m], and p[m]; processing a[m] and p[m] to obtain array b[s], b[s] in {0, 1, . . . , n?1} and representing a positive braid word P, and variable r, ?r·P being a word in standard form representative of the braid; and outputting b[s] and r.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a corporate network includes a client that exchanges information with a target server to establish an SSL communication channel through which cryptographically protected data is exchanged between the client and the target server using an SSL protocol and a monitoring server through which the cryptographically protected data is routed as part of its exchange between the client and the target server. The client sends enabling data to the monitoring server that enables the monitoring server to read the cryptographically protected data received at the monitoring server as decoded cryptographically protected data. The monitoring server also analyzes the decoded cryptographically protected data to determine if it is suspect data, and at times when the monitoring data determines that the decoded cryptographically protected data is suspect data the monitoring server prevents the transmission of the cryptographically protected data between the client and the target server.

Abstract: A closed system meter that secures the link between the accounting device and printer utilizing a Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR) based stream encryption is provided. The accounting device includes an LFSR that comprises a plurality of stages, with one or more taps that are passed through a logic gate to provide a “feedback” signal to the input of the LFSR, to generate a pseudo-random pattern output. Preferably, a Shrinking Key Generator (SKG) is utilized to further ensure privacy of the data. The output data from the accounting unit is encrypted utilizing the output from the LFSR and sent to the printing device. The printing device includes a similar LFSR, which is utilized to decrypt the output data from the accounting unit and enable printing.

Abstract: A method for authenticating a message recipient and for secure communication of messages from a sender to the message recipient through a server, the method being carried out by one or more data processing systems in accordance with instructions carried on one or more computer readable media. The message is communicated by sending message data encrypted with a symmetric key algorithm, a private key for the encryption algorithm being generated by hashing first data, to the message recipient through a server. The message recipient is authenticated by the exchange of second data encrypted with the encryption algorithm, an authentication key for said encryption algorithm being generated by hashing third data. The first and second data include a password, which has previously been provided to the message recipient over a separate secure channel. The first and third data are hashed with an encryption algorithm defined hash algorithm using said encryption algorithm and based on Merkle's meta-method for hashing.

Abstract: A method for exchange of information I over a communications link, a communications system including a data processor for carrying out the method, and computer readable media for providing program code to the data processor. The system receives a signal transmitted over the link, the signal being generated in accordance with a braid group based cryptosystem; transforming the signal to obtain a word expressive of a braid in Bn, braid encoding the information; and transforming the word into a word in novel standard form to recover the information. Word is represented by arrays a[m], a[m] in {0, 1, . . . , n−1}, and p[m], p[m] in {−1, 1}, and transforming the word to a standard form includes: inputting the arrays a[m], and p[m]; processing a[m] and p[m] to obtain array b[s], b[s] in {0, 1, . . .

Abstract: A monitoring system for a corporate network includes a client that exchanges information with a target server to establish an SSL communication channel through which cryptographically protected data is exchanged between the client and the target server using an SSL protocol and a monitoring server through which the cryptographically protected data is routed as part of its exchange between the client and the target server. The client sends enabling data to the monitoring server that enables the monitoring server to read the cryptographically protected data received at the monitoring server as decoded cryptographically protected data. The monitoring server also analyzes the decoded cryptographically protected data to determine if it is suspect data, and at times when the monitoring data determines that the decoded cryptographically protected data is suspect data the monitoring server prevents the transmission of the cryptographically protected data between the client and the target server.

Abstract: A closed system meter that secures the link between the accounting device and printer utilizing a Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR) based stream encryption is provided. The accounting device includes an LFSR that comprises a plurality of stages, with one or more taps that are passed through a logic gate to provide a “feedback” signal to the input of the LFSR, to generate a pseudo-random pattern output. Preferably, a Shrinking Key Generator (SKG) is utilized to further ensure privacy of the data. The output data from the accounting unit is encrypted utilizing the output from the LFSR and sent to the printing device. The printing device includes a similar LFSR, which is utilized to decrypt the output data from the accounting unit and enable printing.