System and method for improving the security of an e-commerce transactions using simple mail transfer protocol (smtp)
AssigneeSwoop IP Holdings LLC
InventorsJohn P. KILLORAN, JR., Patrick L. Killoran, Wauker Matthews
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosed systems and methods enable a user to securely transfer and use gift cards by exchanging emails with embedded tokens. The embedded tokens and the originating email addresses of the exchanged emails are used to authenticate and validate the transfer and use of the gift cards, thereby increasing the security of the e-commerce transaction.
Claims18
A method for improving security of an e-commerce system utilizing Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), the method comprising:
- transmitting, by a processor of the e-commerce system, a gift offer message to a full-customer, wherein the gift offer message includes a mailto link and a token;
- receiving, by the processor, a response message via SMTP that indicates a request to transmit a gift to a sub-customer, wherein the response message is sent in response to activation of the mailto link and includes the token;
- authenticating, by the processor, an email address of a sender of the response message using at least one of DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) and Sender Policy Framework (SPF) protocols;
- on a condition that the email address of the sender is authenticated:
- decoding, by the processor, the token to form a decoded token,
- validating, by the processor, parameters of the gift based on the decoded toke, where the parameters are defined by the full-customer, and
- on a condition that the parameters are validated, transferring, by the processor, the gift to an account of the sub-customer from an account of the full-customer.
A system for improving security of an e-commerce system utilizing Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), the system comprising:
- a memory;
- a communication interface;
- and
- a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the communication interface;
- wherein the processor is configured to:
- transmit, using the communication interface, a gift offer message to a full-customer, wherein the gift offer message includes a mailto link and a token;
- receive, using the communication interface, a response message via SMTP that indicates a request to transmit a gift to a sub-customer, wherein the response message is sent in response to activation of the mailto link and includes the token;
- authenticate an email address of a sender of the response message using at least one of DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) and Sender Policy Framework (SPF) protocols;
- on a condition that the email address of the sender is authenticated:
- decode the token to form a decoded token,
- validate parameters of the gift based on the decoded toke, where the parameters are defined by the full-customer, and
- transfer the gift to an account of the sub-customer from an account of the full-customer when the parameters are successfully validated.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium that stores instructions for improving security of an e-commerce system utilizing Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), the instructions when executed by a processor of the e-commerce system cause the processor to execute a method comprising:
- transmitting a gift offer message to a full-customer, wherein the gift offer message includes a mailto link and a token;
- receiving a response message via SMTP that indicates a request to transmit a gift to a sub-customer, wherein the response message is sent in response to activation of the mailto link and includes the token;
- authenticating an email address of a sender of the response message using at least one of DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) and Sender Policy Framework (SPF) protocols;
- on a condition that the email address of the sender is authenticated:
- decoding the token to form a decoded token,
- validating parameters of the gift based on the decoded toke, where the parameters are defined by the full-customer, and
- on a condition that the parameters are validated, transferring the gift to an account of the sub-customer from an account of the full-customer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.