Method and apparatus for secure document timestamping
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device for secure document timestamping, comprising:
- a time generator for transmitting a representation of a time;
a computing device, including a computer processor and a memory, coupled to receive the representation of the time from the time generator and programmed to perform a cryptographic operation on the representation of the time to produce a timestamp;
an output device, coupled to the computing device, for outputting the timestamp in optically detectable form in response to a timestamp request; and
means for rendering at least one of the time generator and the computing device resistant to tampering.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates devices and methods for creating a cryptographically assured timestamp that can be verified by a party that was not present during the creation of the timestamp. The timestamp is applied to physical documents, and other substrates capable of receiving an optically detectable mark, that are to be transmitted to temporally or spatially distant recipients.
-
Citations
80 Claims
-
1. A device for secure document timestamping, comprising:
-
a time generator for transmitting a representation of a time; a computing device, including a computer processor and a memory, coupled to receive the representation of the time from the time generator and programmed to perform a cryptographic operation on the representation of the time to produce a timestamp; an output device, coupled to the computing device, for outputting the timestamp in optically detectable form in response to a timestamp request; and means for rendering at least one of the time generator and the computing device resistant to tampering. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. A method for optically detectable document timestamping, comprising the steps of:
-
generating a representation of a time; performing a cryptographic operation on the representation of the time to produce a timestamp; and outputting the timestamp in an optically detectable format in response to a timestamp request; at least one of the steps of generating and performing being performed in a tamper-resistant environment. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
-
-
55. A device for secure document timestamping, comprising:
-
a time generator for transmitting a representation of a time, the time generator including a signal receiver for receiving an external signal; a computing device, including a computer processor and a memory, coupled to receive the representation of the time from the time generator and programmed to perform a cryptographic operation on the representation of the time to produce a timestamp; an output device, coupled to the computing device, for outputting the timestamp in optically detectable form in response to a timestamp request; and means for rendering at least one of the time generator and the computing device resistant to tampering. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59)
-
-
60. A device for secure document timestamping, comprising:
-
a time generator for transmitting a representation of a time, said time generator issuing a timestamp request according to a predetermined schedule; a computing device, including a computer processor and a memory, coupled to receive the representation of the time from the time generator and programmed to perform a cryptographic operation on the representation of the time to produce a timestamp; an output device, coupled to the computing device, for outputting the timestamp in optically detectable form in response to the timestamp request; and means for rendering at least one of the time generator and the computing device resistant to tampering.
-
-
61. A device for secure document timestamping, comprising:
-
a time generator for transmitting a representation of a time; a computing device, including a computer processor and a memory, the memory storing a device identification, the computer processor and the memory coupled to receive the representation of the time from the time generator and programmed to perform a cryptographic operation on the representation of the time to produce a timestamp including the device identification; an output device, coupled to the computing device, for outputting the timestamp in optically detectable form in response to a timestamp request; and means for rendering at least one of the time generator and the computing device resistant to tampering.
-
-
62. A device for secure document timestamping, comprising:
-
an input device for receiving a timestamp request; a time generator for transmitting a representation of a time; a computing device, including a computer processor and a memory, coupled to receive the representation of the time from the time generator and programmed to perform a cryptographic operation on the representation of the time to produce a timestamp; an output device, coupled to the computing device, for outputting the timestamp in optically detectable form in response to the timestamp request; and means for rendering at least one of the time generator and the computing device resistant to tampering. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
-
-
68. A method for optically detectable document timestamping, comprising the steps of:
-
generating a representation of a time including a step of receiving an external signal; performing a cryptographic operation on the representation of the time to produce a timestamp; and outputting the timestamp in an optically detectable format in response to a timestamp request; at least one of the steps of generating and performing being performed in a tamper-resistant environment. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72)
-
-
73. A method for optically detectable document timestamping, comprising the steps of:
-
generating a representation of a time; performing a cryptographic operation on the representation of the time to produce a timestamp; and outputting the timestamp in an optically detectable format in response to a timestamp request according to a predetermined schedule; at least one of the steps of generating and performing being performed in a tamper-resistant environment.
-
-
74. A method for optically detectable document timestamping, comprising the steps of:
-
generating a representation of a time; performing a cryptographic operation on the representation of the time to produce a timestamp; including a device identification in the timestamp; and outputting the timestamp in an optically detectable format in response to a timestamp request; at least one of the steps of generating and performing being performed in a tamper-resistant environment.
-
-
75. A method for optically detectable document timestamping, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving a timestamp request; generating a representation of a time; performing a cryptographic operation on the representation of the time to produce a timestamp; and outputting the timestamp in an optically detectable format in response to the timestamp request; at least one of the steps of generating and performing being performed in a tamper-resistant environment. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78, 79, 80)
-
Specification