3rd International ICST Conference on Collaborative Computing: Networking, Applications and Worksharin

Research Article

An Efficient Fair Exchange Protocol that Enforces the Merchant to be Honest

  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.1109/COLCOM.2007.4553830,
        author={Abdullah Alaraj and Malcolm Munro},
        title={An Efficient Fair Exchange Protocol that Enforces the Merchant to be Honest},
        proceedings={3rd International ICST Conference on Collaborative Computing: Networking, Applications and Worksharin},
        publisher={IEEE},
        proceedings_a={COLLABORATECOM},
        year={2008},
        month={6},
        keywords={e-commerce  fair exchange protocols  fairness  non-repudiation  protocols security},
        doi={10.1109/COLCOM.2007.4553830}
    }
    
  • Abdullah Alaraj
    Malcolm Munro
    Year: 2008
    An Efficient Fair Exchange Protocol that Enforces the Merchant to be Honest
    COLLABORATECOM
    IEEE
    DOI: 10.1109/COLCOM.2007.4553830
Abdullah Alaraj1,*, Malcolm Munro1,*
  • 1: Department of computer science, Durham University, Durham, the UK
*Contact email: a.m.alaraj@durham.ac.uk, malcolm.munro@durham.ac.uk

Abstract

A new optimistic fair exchange protocol between a customer (C) and a merchant (M) is presented in this paper. It makes use of Trusted Third Party (TTP) but its use is kept to minimum when disputes arise. The protocol is for exchanging a payment with a digital product such as software. A new idea, in which if the parties are willing to exchange then they are enforced to be honest, is originated in this protocol. The protocol has the following features: (1) it only comprises three messages to be exchanged between C and M in the exchange phase; (2) it guarantees strong fairness for both C and M; (3) it allows both parties to be sure of the item that they will receive from the other party before they receive it; and (4) it resolves disputes automatically online.