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Processes and Protocols

  We first enumerate the basic processes taking place in VarietyCash, and the parties involved in them. Later we describe in detail the requirements and protocols that realize them for the two more relevant processes: Coin Purchase and Payment. Again, we note the distinction between the Registration and Enrollment processes. Intuitively, Registration is a simpler, on-line process that will let a user participate in the transactions. It basically consists of chooshing and ID (possibly a pseudonym) and a secret/public key pair, and making sure that requirements such as availability and security (e.g., minimizing spoiler attacks) are met. On the other hand, Enrollment is accomplished by a combination of on-line and out-of-band steps. It comprises steps such as providing DDA/credit card information, validation of this information, and issuance of initial amount. Being enrolled allows a user to play an ``active'' role in the system, in the sense of generating money conversions from regular to electronic, and viceversa. We leave the details of these two important processes for the full version of the paper, and will assume in the following description that they have already taken place.



 
next up previous
Next: Coin Purchase Up: VarietyCash: a Multi-purpose Electronic Previous: General requirements and principles
Juan A. Garay
7/20/1998