Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for pricing a cryptographic service. A request for a cryptographic service is received. An identification is made of one or more of a computational burden required to perform the cryptographic service, a privacy level of the cryptographic service, and/or a speed of performing the cryptographic service. A price of the cryptographic service is determined based on the computational burden, privacy level, and/or speed. A method is also provided for pricing a cryptographic service based on a compactness of a cryptographic message. A request for encrypting a message is received. The message is encrypted and is also compressed during the encryption. An amount of compression of the message is determined. A price of the encryption is determined based on the amount of compression.

Abstract: A print management system includes a policy that determines a protection level for a document to be printed. The document is printed using forgery detection and deterrence technologies, such as fragile and robust watermarks, glyphs, and digital signatures, that are appropriate to the level of protection determined by the policy. A plurality of printers are managed by a print management system. Each printer can provide a range of protection technologies. The policy determines the protection technologies for the document to be printed and the print management system routes the print job to a printer that can apply the appropriate protections and sets the appropriate parameters in the printer. Copy evidence that can verify that a document is a forgery and/or tracing information that identifies the custodian(s) of the document and restrictions on copying of the document and use of the information in the document are included in the watermark that is printed with the document information.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for affording a cryptographic service utilizing a server on a network. Initially, a client is identified utilizing the network. A first key is established, and a tunnel is generated on the network. Thereafter, information is received at the server from the client utilizing the tunnel. Such information is encrypted by the client using the first key. At the server, cryptographic work is performed using the first key.

Abstract: A method for enabling privacy and trust in electronic communities is disclosed. A major impediment to using recommendation systems and collective knowledge for electronic commerce is the reluctance of individuals to reveal preferences in order to find groups of people that share them. An equally important barrier to fluid electronic commerce is the lack of agreed upon trusted third parties. We propose new non-third party mechanisms to overcome these barriers. Our solutions facilitate finding shared preferences, discovering communities with shared values, removing disincentives posed by liabilities, and negotiating on behalf of a group. We adapt known techniques from the cryptographic literature to enable these new capabilities.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture are provided for pricing a cryptographic service on a network utilizing one or more cryptoservers. A request for a cryptographic service is received from a user utilizing a network. The request is received by a cryptographic service provider. A contract is generated based on a variable pricing scheme in response to the request. The contract is sent from the cryptographic service provider to the user utilizing the network. A method is also provided for auditing a security provision on a network utilizing a cryptoserver. A cryptographic key is obtained such as by obtaining it from a trusted source or generating the key. A plurality of users are allowed to request that a cryptoserver use the cryptographic key to sign a message in violation of a security provision. It is determined whether the cryptoserver signed the message in response to the request.

Abstract: A print management system includes a policy that determines a protection level for a document to be printed. The document is printed using forgery detection and deterrence technologies, such as fragile and robust watermarks, glyphs, and digital signatures, that are appropriate to the level of protection determined by the policy. A plurality of printers are managed by a print management system. Each printer can provide a range of protection technologies. The policy determines the protection technologies for the document to be printed. The print management system routes the print job to a printer that can apply the appropriate protections and sets the appropriate parameters in the printer. Copy evidence that can establish that a document is a forgery and/or tracing information that identifies the custodian of the document and restrictions on copying of the document and use of the information in the document are included in the watermark that is printed on the document.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for secure operation of a network device. A digital certificate is assigned to a network user. A command for operation of a network device and the digital certificate are received from the network user. A cryptographic key stored in the network device is utilized to authenticate the digital certificate of the network user. Operation of the network device is enabled if the digital certificate of the network user is authenticated. According to another aspect of the present invention, a system, method and article of manufacture are provided for secure identification of a network device. A digital certificate is assigned to a network device. A command for operation of the network device is received from a network user. The digital certificate is sent to the network user. The network user utilizes a cryptographic key to authenticate the digital certificate of the network device.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for certifying contracts utilizing a network. Initially, a first and second contract is received utilizing a network. Each contract includes a plurality of terms. It is then certified that the terms of the second contract are consistent with the terms of the first contract.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for transition state-based cryptography in an application including at least one state having a state key associated with it. A request for access is sent to a server utilizing a network upon reaching a state in the application. The request includes a state key associated with the state. A reply is received from the server in response to the request. The reply includes an access key for providing the access if the state key is valid. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for transition state-based cryptography in an application including at least one state having a state key associated with it. A request for access is received from a client to a server utilizing a network. The state key is verified at the server. A reply is sent from the server in response to the request. The reply includes an access key for providing the access if the state key is verified.

Abstract: A symmetric key encryption system includes a printer or copier for performing decryption in two passes. During a first pass an encrypted image is decrypted to define a first partially decrypted image and during a second pass a complement of the encrypted image is decrypted to define a second partially decrypted image. The first partially decrypted image is formed when the encrypted image is rendered onto a first recording medium through a stencil. The stencil, which is a random arrangement of holes, is overlaid on the first recording medium to permit only selected portions of the encrypted image to be rendered on the recording medium. During the second pass, the complement of the encrypted image is rendered on a second recording medium through a complement of the stencil to yield the second partially decrypted image. Overlaying and aligning the first partially decrypted image and the second partially decrypted image finally decrypts the encrypted image.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of the present invention provide secure auction service for use in a network having servers and bidding terminals. The auction service makes transactions among servers and bidding terminals subject to a distributed protocol. The distributed protocol distributes submitted bids among the multiple servers, closes a bidding period, verifies validity of monetary value of each submitted bid by utilizing said distributed protocol and determines a winning bidder.