Computer file integrity verification
US6122738A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 22, 1998 |
| Grant date | Sep 19, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 22, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F21/64
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
System and method for verifying the integrity of contents within a computer file. A security value S is stored within the file. A verification function f is applied against the entire contents of the file including S, where f is a function of S. Results R of the applying step are compared against a preselected value r, where r is not stored within the file. When R equals r, a determination is made that the file has not been modified. f is typically a distributive invertible function such as the Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) function known as modulo p, where p is a prime number and is one bit greater than the length of S. Typically, the value of r is zero. Before executing the verification function f, a check generating program is first executed. This check generating program is executed by a computer that is remote from the file, further enhancing the security of the system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.