System and method for securely duplicating digital documents

• US 20030145209A1
• Filed: 01/31/2002
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evidence Exchange, LLC
• Original Assignee: PeraoGulne Corp. (AlixPartners, LLP)
• Inventors: Prounis, Michael, Eagle, Myron
• Granted Patent: US 7,134,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2107 File encryption

Abstract

A system and method is provided for securely duplicating digital documents of disparate types, such that there is a cryptographically secure link between the duplicate and the original. The system also provides each document with a serial number that is both sequential with all other copied documents and cryptographically linked with the document itself, and which includes verifiable proof against tampering and modification. The system further produces copies of documents in a canonical format suitable for indexing and searching using automated processing tools.

Claims

1. A system for duplicating documents of disparate types to provide a searching mechanism, said system comprising:

storage means for storing an original file containing one original document, said original file being in a first format;

processing means when said original document is a component document of a compound document for extracting said component document from said compound document and storing said component document in said original file; and

conversion means for converting said original file to a canonical format to produce a duplicate file containing a duplicate document of said original document.

2. A system for securely duplicating documents of disparate types to provide a cryptographically secure link between a duplicate document and an original document, said system comprising:

storage means for storing an original file containing one original document, said original file being in a first format;

conversion means for converting said original file to a canonical format to produce a duplicate file containing a duplicate document of said original document;

embedding means for embedding notary data associated with said original file into said canonical format of said duplicate file, said notary data being capable of authenticating said original file; and

indexing means for inserting a sequence number including part of said notary data into said duplicate file.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said original document is a component document of a compound document, and further comprising:

processing means for extracting said component document from said compound document and storing said component document in said original file.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said storage means has a directory structure, said component document being stored in said storage means under a directory associated with said compound document.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein said canonical format is the Portable Document Format (PDF).

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said duplicate document has a Root Dictionary field therein, and further comprising:

creation means for creating a new Dictionary associated with said system; and

insertion means for storing said new Dictionary in said Root Dictionary field and inserting said notary data into said new Dictionary.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein said notary data includes at least a digital fingerprint associated with said original file, a timestamp indicating the time said digital fingerprint was obtained and an identifier, said sequence number including said identifier.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein said sequence number is inserted as a footer on the bottom of each page of said duplicate document.

9. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

additional storage means for storing said duplicate file, said additional storage means having a directory format identical to the directory format of said storage means storing said original file.

10. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

additional embedding means for embedding notary data associated with said duplicate file into said canonical format of said duplicate file, said notary data being capable of authentication said duplicate file.

11. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a log file configured to map a sequenced filename associated with said duplicate file to a filename associated with said original file.