Systems and methods for document control using public key encryption
US7916870B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 3, 2006 |
| Grant date | Mar 29, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 27, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F21/1076
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Systems and methods for document control using public key encryption are provided. An interface program serves as a software interface between user applications used to create and access documents and a data storage system that stores the documents in an encrypted form. When a document is saved for the first time, information corresponding to the destruction of that document is obtained either from a user or in accordance with predefined criteria. The document is encrypted and stored with a pointer to an encryption key on a token/key server. When the document is subsequently accessed, the interface program will read the pointer and attempt to retrieve the key. If the key has expired in accordance with the destruction policy, the document is inaccessible. Otherwise, the document is decrypted using the key. Multiple documents may be saved according to the same destruction policy and even the same key, thereby greatly enhancing the ability to “destroy” documents regardless of their location with minimal process.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.