Value transfer system

United States Patent

Jones et al.

[19]

[ii] Patent Number: 5,440,634 [45] Date of Patent: Aug. 8,1995

[54] VALUE TRANSFER SYSTEM

[75] Inventors: Timothy L. Jones, Hove; Graham R.

Higgjns, Bath, both of England

[73] Assignee: Jonhig Limited, London, United Kingdom

[21] Appl. No.: 75,567

[22] PCT Filed: Oct 16,1992

[86] PCT No.: PCT/GB92/01901
§ 371 Date: Aug. 16,1993
§ 102(e) Date: Aug. 16,1993

[87] PCT Pub. No.: WO93/08545
PCT Pub. Date: Apr. 29,1993

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data

Oct. 16, 1991 [GB] United Kingdom 9121995

[51] Int. Cl.« H04L 9/00

[52] U.S. CI 380/24; 380/4;

380/9; 380/21; 380/23; 380/25; 380/30; 380/49; 380/50; 235/379; 235/380

[58] Field of Search 380/4, 9, 21, 30, 43,

380/49, 50, 23-25; 235/379, 380

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

4,877,950 10/1989 Halpern 235/380 X

4,906,828 3/1990 Halpern 235/379

4,935,962 6/1990 Austin 380/25

4,992,646 2/1991 Collin 235/379 X

5,016,274 5/1991 Mean" et al 380/23

5,030,806 7/1991 Collin 235/380 X

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

0172670 2/1986 European Pat. Off. G07F 7/00

0256768 2/1988 European Pat. Off. G07F 7/10

0363122 4/1990 European Pat. Off. G07F 7/10

2066540 7/1981 United Kingdom G07F 7/10

W091/16691 10/1991 WIPO G07F 7/10

Primary Examiner—Bernarr E. Gregory

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack

[57] ABSTRACT

A plurality of electronic purses communicate with each other to transfer values in transactions off-line from a main computer. A transfer message protocol of a transaction between electronic purses includes a commitment message to constitute a proof of posting. This allows interruption of a transaction before the value message itself is set. Escrow type payments and batch processing are facilitated.

26 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets