System and methods for generating trusted and authenticatable time stamps for electronic documents
US6393126B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 22, 2000 |
| Grant date | May 21, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 22, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2463/121
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A trusted time infrastructure system provides time stamps for electronic documents from a local source. The system comprises a trusted master clock, a trusted local clock, and a network operations center. The trusted master clock and network operations center are located within secure environments controlled by a trusted third party. The trusted local clock may be located in an insecure environment. The trusted master clock is certified to be synchronized with an accepted time standard, such as a national time server. The trusted local clock, which issues time stamps, is certified to be synchronized with the trusted master clock. Time stamps and certifications are signed by the issuing device using public key cryptography to enable subsequent authentication. The network operations center logs clock certifications and responds to requests for authentication of time stamps.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.