Lock-and-key consumer billing data protection system having data encryption capability

Abstract

A “lock-and-key” consumer billing data protection capability is provided to telemarketing and electronic marketing systems which are based upon previously-acquired consumer lists. The lists contain encrypted partial billing information for each consumer, which is insufficient to access the consumer's account. Thus, at the time a consumer is offered a product or service, the telemarketer, the electronic marketer, and any entity hired to perform billing operations for such consumer purchases all remain “locked” out from accessing the consumer's account. When the consumer wishes to authorize the purchase of an offered product or service, the consumer must provide the “key” to the consumer's account, which is the key necessary to decrypt the encrypted partial billing information and also the missing billing information not acquired from the list provider.

1. A method for providing a consumer billing data protection capability, the method comprising the steps of:
 storing in a computer system a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and encrypted partial billing information comprising; wherein the encrypted partial billing information comprises an encrypted version of a predetermined set of p alphanumeric characters of the a billing information of said consumer; wherein the billing information is data required by a financial institution separate from the computer system to access funds from a consumer's account at the financial institution; and wherein a remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information are not stored in the computer system; and  
 processing at said computer system an order received from a consumer, comprising:
 receiving an input indicative that a consumer, corresponding to said consumer identification information stored in one of said plurality of consumer records, desires to purchase a product or service, said input including a key received from said consumer, the key comprising the remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information of said consumer, and wherein m+p is epual equal to the total number of alphanumeric characters in the billing information of said consumer; 
 decrypting, using said key received from said consumer, said encrypted partial billing information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records; and 
 processing an order for said product or service and billing for said order using the decrypted partial billing information stored in said one of the plurality of consumer records, and said key. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein said key includes the Authenticated Content Signing (ACS) code of a credit card. 
     
     
       3. A method for providing a consumer billing data protection capability in a system, the method comprising the steps of:
 storing in a computer system a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and encrypted partial billing information comprising; wherein the encrypted partial billing information comprises an encrypted version of a predetermined set of p alphanumeric characters of the a billing information of said consumer; wherein the billing information comprises data required by a third party to access funds from a consumer's account held by the third party; and wherein a remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information are not stored in the computer system; and  
 processing at said computer system an order received from a consumer, comprising:
 receiving an input indicative that a consumer, corresponding to said consumer identification information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records, desires to purchase a product or service, said input including a key received from said consumer, said key comprising the remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information of said consumer, and wherein m+p is equal to the total number of alphanumeric characters in the billing information of said consumer; 
 decrypting, using said key m alphanumeric characters received from said consumer, said encrypted partial billing information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records; and 
 processing an order for said product or service and billing for said order using said partial decrypted predetermined set of p alphanumeric characters of the billing information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records, and said remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information from said key. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 receiving data, comprising said plurality of consumer records, transmitted by a list provider. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  wherein said key includes the Authenticated Content Signing (ACS) code of a credit card. 
     
     
       6. A system for providing a consumer billing data protection capability in a system that stores a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and encrypted partial billing information comprising; wherein the encrypted partial billing information comprises an encrypted version of a predetermined set of p alphanumeric characters of the a billing information of said consumer, wherein the billing information is data required by a financial institution separate from the system to access funds from a consumer's account at the financial institution; and wherein a remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information are not stored by the system; the system comprising:
 means for receiving an input indicative that a consumer, corresponding to said consumer identification information stored in one of said plurality of consumer records, desires to purchase a product or service, said input including a key received from said consumer, the key comprising the remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information of said consumer, and wherein m+p is equal to the total number of alphanumeric characters in the billing information of said consumer; 
 meansa decryption circuit for decrypting, using said key received from said consumer, said encrypted partial billing information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records; and 
 means for processing an order for said product or service and billing for said order using the decrypted partial billing information stored in said one of the plurality of consumer records, and said key. 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6  wherein said key includes the Authenticated Content Signing (ACS) code of a credit card. 
     
     
       8. A system for providing a consumer billing data protection capability in a system, comprising:
 database means for storing a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and encrypted partial billing information comprising; wherein the partial billing information comprises a predetermined set of p alphanumeric characters of the a billing information of said consumer; wherein the billing information is data required by a financial institution separate from the system to access funds from a consumer's account at the financial institution; and wherein a remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information are not stored in the computer system;  
 list server means for receiving an input indicative that a consumer, corresponding to said consumer identification information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records, desires to purchase a product or service, said input including a key received from said consumer, the key comprising the remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information of said consumer, and wherein m+p is equal to the total number of alphanumeric characters in the billing information of said consumer; 
 decryption circuit means for decrypting, using said key received from said consumer, said encrypted partial billing information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records; and 
 list provider server means for processing an order for said product or service and billing for said order using said partial billing information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records, and said key. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8  further comprising:
 means for receiving data, comprising said plurality of consumer records, transmitted by a list provider. 
 
     
     
       10. The method system of  claim 9  wherein said key includes the Authenticated Content Signing (ACS) code of a credit card. 
     
     
       11. A method for providing a consumer billing data protection capability, comprising the steps of:
 storing in a computer system a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and encrypted partial billing information comprising a; wherein the encrypted partial billing information comprises an encrypted predetermined set of p alphanumeric characters of the a billing information of said consumer; wherein the billing information is data required by a financial institution separate from the computer system to access funds from a consumer's account at the financial institution; and wherein a remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information are not stored in the computer system; and  
 processing at said computer system an order received from a consumer, comprising:
 receiving an input indicative that a consumer, corresponding to said consumer identification information stored in one of said plurality of consumer records, desires to purchase a product or service, said input including a key received from said consumer, the key comprising the remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information of said consumer, and wherein m+p is equal to the total number of alphanumeric characters in the billing information of said consumer; 
 accessing, using said key received from said consumer, said consumer billing information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records; and 
 processing an order for said product or service and billing for said order using the consumer billing information stored in said one of the plurality of consumer records, and said key. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein said key includes the Authenticated Content Signing (ACS) code of a credit card. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 storing a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and consumer billing information. 
 
     
     
       14. A system for providing a consumer billing data protection capability in a system that stores a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and consumer billing information comprising; wherein the consumer billing information comprises a predetermined set of p alphanumeric characters of the a complete billing information of said consumer, wherein the complete billing information is data required by a financial institution separate from the system to access funds from a consumer's account at the financial institution; and wherein a remaining m alphanumeric characters of the complete billing information are not stored in the computer system; the system comprising the steps of:
 means for receiving an input indicative that a consumer, corresponding to said consumer identification information stored in one of said plurality of consumer records, desires to purchase a product or service, said input including a key received from said consumer, the key comprising the remaining m alphanumeric characters of the complete billing information of said consumer and wherein m+p is equal to the total number of alphanumeric characters in the complete billing information of said consumer; 
 meansa decryption circuit for accessing, using said key received from said consumer, said consumer billing information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records; and 
 means for processing an order for said product or service and billing for said order using the consumer billing information stored in said one of the plurality of consumer records, and said key. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14  wherein said key includes the Authenticated Content Signing (ACS) code of a credit card. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 14  further comprising:
 means for storing a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and consumer billing information. 
 
     
     
       17. A method for providing a consumer billing data protection capability, comprising:
 storing in a computer system a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and encrypted partial billing information; wherein the encrypted partial billing information includes an encrypted copy of a first portion of the billing information of said consumer comprising a predetermined set of p alphanumeric characters of a billing information of said consumer; wherein the billing information is data required by a financial institution separate from the computer system to charge a consumer's account; and wherein a second portion of the billing information that completes the billing information when combined with the first portion is not stored in the computer system; and   processing at said computer system an order received from a consumer, comprising:
 receiving a key from said consumer, the key including the second portion of the billing information, the second portion comprising the remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information, wherein m+p is equal to the total number of alphanumeric characters in the billing information of said consumer; 
 decrypting said encrypted partial billing information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records using said key received from said consumer; and 
 billing said consumer for said order using the first portion of the billing information and the second portion of the billing information.  
   
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17 wherein said key includes the Authenticated Content Signing (ACS) code of a credit card.  
     
     
       19. A method for providing a consumer billing data protection capability in a system, comprising:
 storing in a computer system a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and encrypted partial billing information; wherein the encrypted partial billing information comprises an encrypted version of a predetermined set of p alphanumeric characters of a p+m alphanumeric characters of the billing information of said consumer required by a third party to access funds from a consumer's account held by the third party; wherein m+p is equal to the total number of alphanumeric characters in the billing information of said consumer, and wherein a remaining m alphanumeric characters of the m+p alphanumeric characters of the billing information are not stored in the computer system; and   processing at said computer system an order received from a consumer, comprising:
 receiving a key from said consumer, the key comprising the remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information of said consumer; 
 decrypting said p alphanumeric characters, using the m alphanumeric characters from said key; and 
 billing said consumer for said order using said decrypted p alphanumeric characters and said m alphanumeric characters from said key.  
   
     
     
       20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:
 receiving data, comprising said plurality of consumer records, transmitted by a list provider.    
     
     
       21. The method of claim 19 wherein said key includes the Authenticated Content Signing (ACS) code of a credit card.  
     
     
       22. A system for providing a consumer billing data protection capability in a system that stores a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and encrypted partial billing information wherein the encrypted partial billing information comprises an encrypted version of a predetermined set of p alphanumeric characters of a billing information of said consumers, wherein the billing information is data required by a financial institution separate from the system to access funds from a consumer's account at the financial institution, and wherein a remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information are not stored by the system; the system comprising:
 means for receiving a key from a consumer, the key comprising the remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information of said consumer, and wherein m+p is equal to the total number of alphanumeric characters in the billing information of said consumer;   a decryption circuit for decrypting, using said key received from said consumer, said encrypted partial billing information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records; and   means for billing said consumer for an order for a product or service using the decrypted partial billing information and said key.    
     
     
       23. The system of claim 22 wherein said key includes the Authenticated Content Signing (ACS) code of a credit card.  
     
     
       24. A system for providing a consumer billing data protection capability in a system, comprising:
 database means for storing a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and encrypted partial billing information; wherein the encrypted partial billing information comprises an encrypted version of a first portion of a billing information of said consumers, the first portion comprising a predetermined set of p alphanumeric characters of the billing information of said consumers; wherein m+p is equal to the total number of alphanumeric characters in the billing information of said consumers; wherein the billing information is data required by a financial institution separate from the system to charge a consumer's account; wherein a second portion of the billing information comprising a remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information of said consumers is not stored in the computer system, and wherein the first portion and the second portion combined constitute the entire billing information;   list server means for receiving a key from a consumer, the key including the second portion of the billing information of said consumer comprising the remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information;   decryption circuit means for decrypting, using the second portion of the billing information, said encrypted partial billing information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records; and   list provider server means for billing said consumer for an order for a product or service using said decrypted partial billing information and said second portion of the billing information.    
     
     
       25. The system of claim 24 further comprising:
 means for receiving data, comprising said plurality of consumer records, transmitted by a list provider.    
     
     
       26. The system of claim 24 wherein said key includes the Authenticated Content Signing (ACS) code of a credit card.  
     
     
       27. A method for providing a consumer billing data protection capability, comprising:
 storing in a computer system a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and encrypted partial billing information; wherein the encrypted partial billing information comprises an encrypted version of a predetermined set of p alphanumeric characters of a complete billing information of said consumers; wherein m+p is equal to the total number of alphanumeric characters in the billing information of said consumers; wherein the complete billing information is data required by a financial institution separate from the computer system to access funds from a consumer's account at the financial institution; and wherein a remaining m alphanumeric characters of the complete billing information are not stored in the computer system; and   processing at said computer system an order received from a consumer, comprising:
 receiving a key from said consumer, the key comprising the remaining m alphanumeric characters of the complete billing information of said consumer, and wherein m+p is equal to the total number of alphanumeric characters in the complete billing information of said consumer; 
 accessing, using said key received from said consumer, said partial billing information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records; and 
 billing said consumer for said order using the complete billing information by combining the p alphanumeric characters from said partial billing information stored in said one of the plurality of consumer records, and the m alphanumeric characters from said key.  
   
     
     
       28. The method of claim 27 wherein said key includes the Authenticated Content Signing (ACS) code of a credit card.  
     
     
       29. The method of claim 27 further comprising:
 storing a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and encrypted partial billing information.    
     
     
       30. A system for providing a consumer billing data protection capability in a system that stores a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and encrypted consumer billing information; wherein the encrypted consumer billing information comprises a predetermined set of p alphanumeric characters of a complete billing information of said consumers, wherein the complete billing information is data required by a financial institution separate from the system to access funds from a consumer's account at the financial institution, and wherein a remaining m alphanumeric characters of the complete billing information are not stored in the computer system; the system comprising:
 means for receiving a key from a consumer, the key comprising the remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information of said consumer and wherein m+p is equal to the total number of alphanumeric characters in the billing information of said consumer;   a decryption circuit for accessing, using said key received from said consumer, said consumer billing information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records; and   means for billing said consumer for an order for a product or service using the consumer billing information stored in said one of the plurality of consumer records, and said key.    
     
     
       31. The system of claim 30 wherein said key includes the Authenticated Content Signing (ACS) code of a credit card.  
     
     
       32. The system of claim 30 further comprising:
 means for storing a plurality of consumer records, each of which includes consumer identification information and consumer billing information.    
     
     
       33. A tangible computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, execution of which by a computer system causes the computer system to perform operations in decrypting and completing partial billing information stored in a plurality of consumer records, each consumer record including consumer identification information and encrypted partial billing information; wherein the encrypted partial billing information comprises an encrypted version of a predetermined set of p alphanumeric characters of a billing information of said consumers; wherein the billing information is data required by a financial institution separate from the computer system to access funds from a consumer's account at the financial institution; and wherein a remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information are not stored in the computer system; the operations comprising:
 receiving a key from a consumer, the key comprising the remaining m alphanumeric characters of the billing information of said consumer, and wherein m+p is equal to the total number of alphanumeric characters in the billing information of said consumer;   decrypting, using said key received from said consumer, said encrypted partial billing information stored in said one of said plurality of consumer records; and   completing the billing information by combining the key with the decrypted partial billing information.