System and method for electronic transmission, storage and retrieval of authenticated documents
First Claim
1. A method of authenticating an electronic document, comprising the steps of:
- signing the electronic document with a digital signature of a transfer agent;
appending a certificate to the electronic document by the transfer agent, wherein the certificate relates a cryptographic key to an identity of the transfer agent;
applying a date stamp and a time stamp to the electronic document;
validating the digital signature and certificate of the transfer agent;
signing the electronic document with a second digital signature and appending a second certificate to the electronic document signed with the second digital signature after the digital signature has been validated, wherein the second certificate relates a cryptographic key to the second digital signature; and
storing in a facility identified by the second digital signature, the document signed with the second digital signature and having the second certificate appended such that the facility assumes control of the document.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided that implement digital signing and/or encryption for the electronic transmission, storage, and retrieval of authenticated documents and that enable the establishment of the identity of the originator of an electronic document and of the integrity of the information contained in such a document. Together these provide irrevocable proof of authenticity of the document. The methods and apparatus make it possible to provide "paper-less" commercial transactions, such as real-estate transactions and the financial transactions secured by real estate. A Certification Authority provides tools for initializing and managing the cryptographic material required to sign and seal electronic documents. An Authentication Center provides "third party" verification that a document is executed and transmitted by the document'"'"'s originator. The methods and apparatus eliminate the need for "hard copies" of original documents as well as hard-copy storage. Retrieval of an authenticated document from the Authentication Center may be done by any number of authorized parties at any time by on-line capability.
409 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of authenticating an electronic document, comprising the steps of:
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signing the electronic document with a digital signature of a transfer agent; appending a certificate to the electronic document by the transfer agent, wherein the certificate relates a cryptographic key to an identity of the transfer agent; applying a date stamp and a time stamp to the electronic document; validating the digital signature and certificate of the transfer agent; signing the electronic document with a second digital signature and appending a second certificate to the electronic document signed with the second digital signature after the digital signature has been validated, wherein the second certificate relates a cryptographic key to the second digital signature; and storing in a facility identified by the second digital signature, the document signed with the second digital signature and having the second certificate appended such that the facility assumes control of the document.
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2. An apparatus for authenticating an electronic document, comprising:
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means for signing the electronic document with a digital signature of a transfer agent; means for appending a certificate to the electronic document, wherein the certificate relates a cryptographic key to an identity of the transfer agent; means for applying a date stamp and a time stamp to the electronic document; means for validating the digital signature and certificate; means for signing the electronic document with a second digital signature and for appending a second certificate to the electronic document signed with the second digital signature after the digital signature has been validated by the validating means, wherein the second certificate relates a cryptographic key to the second digital signature; and means, identified by the second digital signature, for storing the document signed with the second digital signature and having the second certificate appended such that the storing means assumes control of the document.
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3. A method of executing a transaction by transferring an authenticated information object having a verifiable evidence trail, comprising the steps of:
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signing, by a first entity, the information object with a first digital signature; appending, by the first entity, a first certificate to the information object, wherein the first certificate relates at least an identity and a cryptographic key to the first entity; authenticating the information object signed with the first digital signature and having appended the first certificate by a second entity, thereby forming an authenticated object, wherein the step of authenticating comprises; validating the first digital signature and first certificate; applying a date stamp and a time stamp to the information object signed with the first digital signature and having appended the first certificate; and after the validating and applying steps, taking control of the validated stamped information object by signing the information object with a second digital signature of the second entity, appending a second certificate to the information object, and storing the validated stamped information object signed with the second digital signature and having the second certificate appended as the authenticated object, wherein the second certificate relates at least an identity and a cryptographic key to the second entity; and
transferring the authenticated object to an entity in response to an instruction. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for executing a transaction by transferring an authenticated information object having a verifiable evidence trail, comprising:
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first means for signing, by a first entity, the information object with a first digital signature and for appending, by the first entity, a first certificate to the information object, wherein the first certificate relates at least an identity and a cryptographic key to the first entity; and means for authenticating an information object signed with the first digital signature and having appended the first certificate by a second entity, thereby forming an authenticated object, wherein the authenticating means comprises; means for validating the first digital signature and first certificate; a date stamp and a time stamp for application to an information object signed with the first digital signature and having appended the first certificate; and means for controlling a validated stamped information object, wherein the controlling means comprises second means for signing an information object with a second digital signature of the second entity and for appending a second certificate to the information object, and a memory; wherein the memory includes storage locations for validated stamped information objects signed with the second digital signature and having the second certificate appended as authenticated objects, an authenticated object stored in the memory is transferrable in response to an instruction, and the second certificate relates at least an identity and a cryptographic key to the second entity. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification