Methods and apparatus for secure electronic, certified, restricted delivery mail systems

A data transfer system comprising:

• an originating data transfer device originating a transfer of data and data transfer attributes;
• an independent certifying processing device that sends a data transfer certification to at least one device involved in the data transfer after processing a delivery receipt, which certification comprises authentication of the data transfer using a postmark of a postal authority which postmark is a unique digital characterization of the delivery receipt;
• a receiving data transfer device that receives the data and data transfer attributes, verifies that the received data is the same as the data sent by an at least one remote device, processes the delivery receipt comprising data transfer attribute verification, which indicates successful receipt of the data, after successful receipt of the data transferred, and communicates with the independent certifying processing device;
• wherein at least one data transfer to the receiving data transfer device is certified when successful by the independent certifying processing device.

A method for receiving data and data transfer attributes and certifying successful receipt of a data transfer electronically transferred from at least one originating remote device to a receiving device, the method comprising:

• generating a delivery receipt comprising data attributes verification after successfully verifying that the received data is the same as the data sent by the at least one remote device;
• communicating with an independent certifying processing device that verifies delivery receipts;
• and
• sending certification from the independent certifying processing device to at least one device involved in the data transfer after processing the delivery receipt, which certification comprises authentication using a postmark of a postal authority which postmark is a unique digital characterization of the delivery receipt,
• wherein the independent certifying processing device certifies at least one successful data transfer to the receiving device.

A method for transfer of data electronically over shared communication pathways from at least one remote device originating the transfer to a receiving device, the method comprising:

• authenticating an identity of each intended party to the data transfer;
• generating data transfer attributes characterizing the data transferred;
• encrypting the data to restrict access to intended recipients of the data transferred;
• sending the data transfer attributes and the encrypted data to the at least one receiving device;
• receiving the data transfer attributes and the encrypted data by the at least one receiving device;
• verifying received data transfer attributes providing verification that the received data is the same as the data sent by the at least one remote device;
• processing a delivery receipt comprising data attributes verification after successfully verifying that the received data is the same as the data sent by the at least one remote device;
• communicating with an independent certifying processor that certifies delivery receipts, the certification comprising authentication using a postmark of a postal authority which postmark is a unique digital characterization of a delivery receipt;
• and
• sending certification from the independent certifying processor to at least one device involved in the data transfer after certifying the delivery receipt,
• wherein the independent certifying processing device certifies at least one successful data transfer to the receiving device.