Method for authenticating electronic documents on a computer network

• US 6,018,801 A
• Filed: 02/23/1998
• Issued: 01/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank A. Cona
• Original Assignee: IP Warehouse, Inc.
• Inventors: Palage, Michael D., Cona, Frank A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E.
• Application Number:
  US09/027,766
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 713/200, 713/201, 713/202, 713/229, 380/3, 380/4, 380/23, 380/25
• US Class Current: 726/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6272 by registering files or documents with a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32

Abstract

A method for verifying the source of an electronic document located on a computer network, wherein said electronic document is viewed through a Document Viewer, which includes incorporating a document identifier into the electronic document. The document identifier contains identifying information related to the electronic document. A verification signal containing the identifying information and location information related to the location of the electronic document on the computer network is generated with the Document Viewer and is transmitted to a verification computer. The verification computer accesses a data source to retrieve an identification record and a location record for the electronic document. These records are compared with the verification signal, and a reply signal is generated, which is transmitted back to the Document Viewer. If the information in the verification signal does not match the information contained in the information and location records, then an error message may also be generated, which is sent to a designated recipient as notification of the error.

Claims

1. A method of authenticating the source of an electronic document located on a computer network comprising the steps of:

(a) incorporating a document identifier into said electronic document, said document identifier having identifying information related to said electronic document;

(b) generating a verification signal from a verification source, said verification signal containing said identifying information and location information related to the location of said electronic document on said computer network;

(c) transmitting said verification signal to a verification system;

(d) accessing a data source with said verification system, said data source containing information about said electronic document;

(e) comparing said verification signal with said information about said electronic document;

wherein if said location information in said verification signal is not contained in said information about said electronic document in said data source, generating an error signal which is transmitted elsewhere on said computer network; and

wherein if said location information in said verification signal is contained in said information about said electronic document in said data source, generating a reply signal based upon said identification information about said electronic document in said data source, which is transmitted to said verification source.

2. The authentication method of claim 1, wherein said document identifier is stored in said verifying system and is incorporated into said electronic document when said electronic document is loaded into said document viewer.

3. The authentication method of claim 1, wherein said verification system comprises a Web server operating on a computer.

4. The authentication method of claim 1, wherein said document identifier contains a blocking mechanism, said blocking mechanism preventing said document viewer from replicating said document identifier.

5. The authentication method of claim 1, wherein said document identifier is a digital image file and associated computer code.

6. The authentication method of claim 5, wherein said identifying information related to said electronic document is encoded into said image file.

7. The authentication method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting said error signal to a second designated location on said computer network.

8. The authentication method of claim 1, further comprising the step of saving said error signal as a record in said data source.

9. The authentication method of claim 1 wherein said document identifier includes a Universal Resource Locator.

10. The authentication method of claim 1 wherein said document is a Web page.

11. The authentication method of claim 1, wherein said computer network is connected to the Internet.

12. The authentication method of claim 1, wherein said document is a Web page.

13. A method of authenticating the source of an electronic document located on a computer network capable of being viewed through a document viewer, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) incorporating a document identifier into said electronic document from a verifying computer when said electronic document is loaded into said document viewer, said document identifier having identifying information related to said electronic document;

(b) generating a verification signal with said document viewer, said verification signal containing said identifying information and location information related to the location of said electronic document on said computer network;

(c) transmitting said verification signal to a verification server;

(d) accessing a data source with said verification server, said data source containing information about said electronic document;

(e) comparing said verification signal with said information about said electronic document;

wherein if said location information in said verification signal is not contained in said information about said electronic document in said data source, generating an error signal which is transmitted elsewhere on said computer network; and

wherein if said location information in said verification signal is contained in said information about said electronic document in said data source, generating a reply signal based upon said identification information about said electronic document in said data source, which is transmitted to said document viewer.

14. The authentication method of claim 13, wherein said document identifier contains a blocking mechanism, said blocking mechanism preventing said document viewer from replicating said document identifier.

15. The authentication method of claim 13, wherein said document identifier is a digital image file and associated computer code.

16. The authentication method of claim 15, wherein said identifying information related to said electronic document is encoded into said image file.

17. The authentication method of claim 13, further comprising the step of transmitting said error signal to a second designated location on said computer network.

18. The authentication method of claim 13, further comprising the step of saving said error signal as a record in said data source.

19. The authentication method of claim 13, wherein said data source is a relational database.

20. The authentication method of claim 13, wherein said data source is a relational database.

21. The authentication method of claim 13, wherein said computer network is connected to the Internet.

22. The authentication method of claim 13 wherein said document is a Web page.

23. In a method for authenticating the source of an electronic document located on a computer network and being viewed through a document viewer, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) incorporating a document identifier into said electronic document when said electronic document is loaded into said document viewer, said document identifier having identifying information related to said electronic document;

(b) generating a verification signal with said document viewer, said verification signal containing said identifying information and location information related to the location of said electronic document on said computer network;

(c) transmitting said verification signal to a verification server;

(d) accessing a data source with said verification server, said data source containing at least one identification record for said electronic document and at least one location record for said electronic document on said computer network;

(e) retrieving said location record from said data source;

(f) comparing said verification signal with said location record;

(g) determining if said location record is the same as said location information contained in said verification signal;

(h) if said location information in said verification signal is not the same as said location record, generating an error signal, creating an error message, and transmitting said error message to said document viewer and to a second designated location on said computer network; and

(i) if said location information in said verification signal is the same as said location record, retrieving said information record from said data source, generating a reply signal based upon identification record and said location record, and transmitting said reply signal to said document.

24. The authentication method of claim 23, wherein said document identifier contains a blocking mechanism, said blocking mechanism preventing said document viewer from replicating said document identifier.

25. The authentication method of claim 23, wherein said identifying information related to said electronic document is encoded into said image file.

26. The authentication method of claim 23, further comprising the step of saving said error signal as a record in said data source.

27. The authentication method of claim 23, wherein said information storage system is a relational database.

28. The authentication method of claim 23, wherein said data source is a relational database.

29. The authentication method of claim 23, wherein said computer network is connected to the Internet.

30. The authentication method of claim 23 wherein said document is a Web page.

31. A method of authenticating the source of an electronic document located on a computer network comprising the steps of:

(a) incorporating a document identifier containing location information into said electronic document;

(b) generating an information request signal based upon said document identifier;

(c) transmitting said information request signal to an information storage system containing information about said electronic document;

(d) comparing said information request signal with said information about said electronic document contained in said information storage system;

wherein if said location information is not contained in said information about said electronic document in said information storage system, generating an error signal which is transmitted elsewhere on said computer network; and

wherein if said location information is contained in said information about said electronic document in said information storage system, generating a reply signal based upon said information about said electronic document in said information storage system, which is transmitted to said verification source.

32. The authentication method of claim 31, wherein said document identifier is a digital image file and associated computer code.

33. The authentication method of claim 32, wherein said information about said electronic document is encoded into said image file.

34. The authentication method of claim 31, wherein said computer network is connected to the Internet.

35. The authentication method of claim 31, wherein said information storage system is a relational database.

36. The authentication method of claim 31, wherein said computer network is connected to the Internet.

37. The authentication method of claim 31, wherein said document is a Web page.