System and method for securing on-line documents using authentication codes
View Patent ↗A system and method for providing an authentication code across a network for use in authentication of documents, such as printed lottery tickets. The system includes document-printing terminals that include a key that is used in a mathematical function with the bet information for a specific-game entry to generate a document code that is sent to a central server. The central server stores the received document code and then generates an authentication code for the document desired to be printed at the terminal, and sends the authentication code back to the terminal for printing on the issued document. The authentication code can be a further mathematical processing of the document code. Verification of the document occurs from comparison of the authentication code on the document and stored authentication and/or document codes at the server.
1. A system for providing an authentication code across a network for use in a game document comprising:
one or more terminals that each include a document printing device, each terminal including a pseudo-random key generator configured to generate a key wherein the key remains at the terminal that generated the key and is not disclosed to the remainder of the network, each terminal configured for selectively receiving a bet for entry into a game and generating a game-entry document having document-specific information, each terminal further configured for generating a document code comprised of a mathematical function utilizing at least the key and a bet for a specific game entry, and each terminal configured for selectively transmitting the document-specific information and document code to another computer device on the network;
at least one server in communication with the network, the server configured for receiving the document-specific information and document code transmitted from the one or more terminals, storing such document-specific information and code, and sending the one or more terminals an authentication code comprising at least a serial number for printing on a game document; and
wherein upon receipt of the authentication code from the at least one server, each terminal configured for printing a game document including the received authentication code and deleting the key so that it no longer remains at each terminal so that neither the terminal or the server may reproduce the key.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the game document is a lottery ticket.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the document code is comprised of a mathematical function that further utilizes the document-specific information.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the document-specific information is a ticket serial number.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mathematical function is a hashing function.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein terminal changes the key for each game-entry document printed.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the authentication code is comprised of a further mathematical function performed on the received document code.
8. A method of providing an authentication code across a network for use in the verification of a game document, comprising:
receiving a bet at a terminal for entry into a game, wherein the terminal includes a pseudo-random key generator that generates a key wherein the key remains at the terminal that generated the key and is not disclosed to the remainder of the network;
transmitting document-specific information and a document code from the terminal across a network, the document code comprising a mathematical function utilizing at least the key and the bet for the specific game entry;
receiving at a server the document-specific information and the document code transmitted from the terminal across the network;
storing such document-specific information and document code at the server;
generating an authentication code at the server comprising a serial number;
sending to the terminal at least the authentication code for generation of a game document;
generating a game document at the terminal having document-specific information and the authentication code; and
deleting the key at the terminal so that it no longer remains at the terminal so that neither the terminal nor the server may reproduce the key.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
receiving an authentication code at the server;
comparing the authentication code to stored document-specific information and document codes to indicate if the authentication code is valid.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of comparing the authentication code compares the authentication code received with the stored document-specific information and document code received from a specific terminal.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of generating an authentication code is comprised of a mathematical function performed on the received document code.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of generating an authentication code is comprised of a hashing function performed on the received document code.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of generating an authentication code is comprised of a mathematical function performed on the received document-specific information and document code.
14. A computer device for generating game-entry documents, comprising:
a document printing device;
a communication interface with a network; and
a controller including a pseudo-random key generator configured to generate a key wherein the key remains at the controller that generated the key and is not disclosed to the remainder of the network, the controller configured for selectively receiving a bet for entry into a game and selectively generating a game-entry document having document-specific information, the controller further configured for generating a document code comprised of a mathematical function utilizing at least the key and the bet for a specific game entry, the controller further configured for selectively transmitting the document specific information and document code to another computer device on the network, and the controller further configured for selectively receiving an authentication code from another computer device on the network; and
wherein the document printing device is configured to print a game-entry document including the received authentication code and the controller is configured to delete the key so that it no longer remains at the controller such that neither the controller nor the computer device may reproduce the key.
15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the document code is comprised of a mathematical function that further utilizes the document-specific information.
16. The device of claim 15 , wherein controller changes the key for each game document printed.
17. The device of claim 14 , wherein the game document is a lottery ticket.
18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the document-specific information is a ticket serial number.
19. The device of claim 14 , wherein the mathematical function is a hashing function.
20. The device of claim 14 wherein the mathematical function is an asymmetrical encryption algorithm.