Method and apparatus for delivering electronic data through a proxy server
An electronic parcel delivery system for delivering digital information between computer systems over a network is described. The parcel delivery system includes a server system interposed between a sending system and a receiving system. The server system stores digital information received over the network. The digital information can represent a parcel, document, image, executable software, audio file, etc. The sending system transmits a notification to the receiving system. The notification signifies that the sending system is transmitting the digital information to the server system over the network and that the digital information may be accessible by the receiving system. The receiving system can receive the notification directly from the sending system or through a second server system connected to the network. The server system can receive the digital information directly from the sending system or through a second server system connected to the network. The server system can include a web page that the receiving system can access to obtain the stored digital information. The notification can include a resource locator that addresses the Web page on the server system. The Web page can request valid authentication of the receiving system before granting access to the digital information. Delivery of the digital information can be canceled by the sending system after the sending system transmits the digital information to the server system until the receiving system uses the digital information.
1. An apparatus for electronically delivering an electronic document to a receiving system over a network, comprising:
a sending system connected to the network and comprising digital information representing an electronic document designated for delivery to the receiving system and a processor executing encryption software to encode the document before transmitting the document on the network; and
a server system connected to the network to receive the encoded document, the server system comprising a processor executing decryption software to decode the document encoded by the sending system, executing encryption software to encode the decoded document, and delivering the document to the receiving system, wherein the processor begins delivery of the document to the receiving system only after receiving a request for the document from the receiving system.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the encryption software on the server system uses a different key for encoding the electronic document than the encryption software on the sending device.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the encryption software on the sending system is a first encryption software and the sending system further comprises a second encryption software for encoding the document using a key associated with the receiving system before encoding the electronic document with the first encryption software.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the server system is a certificate authority.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the server system further comprises:
a first software module maintaining a record of transactions performed by the receiving system;
a data structure stored in memory associating a fee with each performed transaction; and a second software module calculating an amount owed in response to the record of performed transactions and the data structure.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the server system further comprises a third software module generating an invoice including the amount owed.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the server system further comprises a third software module defining each transaction that can be performed by the receiving system.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of receiving systems, each receiving sytem and wherein the document is a request for offers.
9. A method for delivering goods to a sending system, comprising the steps of:
transmitting over the network a document to a server system designated for subsequent delivery to a first receiving system operated by a first entity, the document specifying a request to acquire goods from the first entity;
transmitting a notice to the first receiving system signifying that the document can be accessed at the server system;
transmitting the document to the first receiving system;
receiving in response to the document a confirmation at the server system from the first receiving system indicating acceptance of the request for acquisition of the goods; and
transmitting in response to the confirmation a notice to a second receiving system operated by a second entity requesting that the second entity obtain the goods from the first entity.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:
maintaining a record of transactions performed by the receiving system;
associating a fee with each performed transaction; and
calculating an amount owed in response to the record of performed transactions and the data structure.
11. A method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:
transmitting over the network a document to a server system designated for subsequent delivery to a plurality of receiving systems each operated by an entity, the document soliciting a response from each entity operating a receiving system, the response from each entity offering particular goods for a price;
selecting one of the responses according to a predetermined criteria;
transmitting a notice indicating acceptance of the offer of selected response
transmitting a notice to the each receiving system signifying that the document can be accessed at the server system;
transmitting the document to each receiving system requesting the document;
maintaining a record of transactions performed by the receiving system;
associating a fee with each performed transaction; and calculating an amount owed in response to the record of performed transactions and the data structure.
12. A method for delivering an electronic parcel over a network, comprising the steps of:
obtaining approval to transmit digital information to a server sytem;
determining a portion size for transmitting the digital information;
determining a format for a transaction;
generating the transaction having an amount of digital information approximately equal to the portion size; and
transmitting the transaction over the network to the server system.