System and method for certifying content of hard-copy documents
US5926551A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 28, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 28, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2209/60
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system and method are provided for facilitating proof that a specific item, such as a document, has been sent via a communication medium, such as the mail service of the United States Postal Service, at a specific time. A bit map image is produced, such as by scanning a hard copy document. Preferably the bit map is compressed into a data string and hashed. The hash file is signed by a certifying authority, such as the USPS, using an existentially unforgeable signature scheme. The original document, a code representation of the string, and a code representation of the signature are sent via the communication medium. As a result, the combination of materials sent provides proof of the authenticity of the content of the document.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.