Trusted communications between untrusting parties

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for assuring that networked communications between parties playing a game on a network (e.g., the Internet) are not tampered with by either of the parties for illicitly gaining an advantage over the other party. An initial sequence of tokens (e.g., card representations) for playing the game are doubly encrypted using an encryption key from each of the parties. Accordingly, during play of the game neither party can modify the initial sequence of game tokens during the game. At termination of the game, at least one of the parties can fully decrypt the initial sequence of tokens, and thereby, if desired, compare the played token sequence with the corresponding the initial token sequence.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 617,386, filed Jul. 17, 2000 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 144,350, filed Jul. 16, 1999, the entire disclosure of each of these applications is herein incorporated by reference. RELATED FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is related to assuring that network communications between two parties can not be illicitly tampered with by either of the parties, and more particularly, when the parties are playing a game on a network such as the Internet.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Electronic communications and interactions such as on networks like the Internet have greatly expanded the potential for interactions among people, organizations and businesses. However, although such communications offer substantial advantages in terms of the speed and ease of communications, these advantages are often offset b...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] In one aspect, the present invention is a novel method and system for assuring that no party involved in the play of a game is able to a inappropriately tamper with or inappropriately disclose pre-game arrangement of tokens and / or events for the game. More generally, the present invention reduces the likelihood that any of the parties involved in a game or contest (e.g., parties such as the sponsor / provider of a game or contest, or any player of the game or contest) is likely to play unfairly by unscrupulously manipulating or disclosing the arrangement of tokens and / or events of the game or contest. The present invention is particularly useful in assuring such parties when game or contest communications between parties occur via transmissions on a communications network such as a local are network, a wide area network, the World Wide Web, the Internet, or some combination of the above.

Problems solved by technology

In particular, electronic network communications between parties wherein at least one of the parties is believed to be potentially untrustworthy, or there is a question about one of the parties' authenticity can greatly affect the acceptance of electronic communications as a substitute for face-to-face communication.

For example, when games are played on the Internet wherein such games offer prizes and / or returns on bets, and where the games are largely dependent upon a predetermined order or arrangement of tokens (e.g., card representations) or game scenarios, network game players may find it difficult to fully trust the game sponsor / provider to not distort the chances of game players to receive all prizes and / or be fairly compensated for wagers made.

Alternatively, such game sponsors / providers are unwilling to provide to game players the game outcomes prior to the completion of such a game in that the game players could potentially use such outcomes prior to the completion of the game for their own benefit.

Alternatively, when providing an auction for electronic sealed bids, similar concerns regarding trustworthiness of auction parties may undesirably affect the bidding process.

For instance, when a plurality of companies are competing with one another for a contract, there may be a concern that a sealed bid from one company might be inappropriately communicated to another of the bidding companies.

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