Method and apparatus for secure document timestamping
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for secure document timestamping, comprising:
- a time generator for generating a representation of the 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 to a physical document in response to automatic detection by the apparatus of a triggering event; and
means for rendering at least one of the time generator and the computing device resistant to tampering.
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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.
225 Citations
50 Claims
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1. An apparatus for secure document timestamping, comprising:
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a time generator for generating a representation of the 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 to a physical document in response to automatic detection by the apparatus of a triggering event; 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, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for secure document timestamping, comprising the steps of:
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generating a representation of the time;
performing a cryptographic operation on the representation of the time to produce a timestamp;
automatically detecting a triggering event; and
outputting the timestamp in an optically detectable form to a physical document in response to the automatic detection of the triggering event;
at least one of the steps of generating and performing being performed in a tamper-resistant environment. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. An apparatus for secure document timestamping, comprising:
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means for generating a representation of the time;
means for performing a cryptographic operation on the representation of the time to produce a timestamp;
means for automatically detecting a triggering event; and
means for outputting the timestamp in an optically detectable form to a physical document in response to the automatic detection of the triggering event;
means for locating at least one of the generating means and the performing means in a tamper-resistant environment.
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47. An apparatus for secure document timestamping, comprising:
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a time generator for generating representations of the time;
a computing device coupled to receive the representations of the time from the time generator and programmed to perform a series of cryptographic operations on the representations of the time to produce timestamps;
an output device, coupled to the computing device, for outputting the timestamps in optically detectable form in response to a predetermined schedule; and
means for rendering at least one of the time generator and the computing device resistant to tampering.
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48. An apparatus for secure document timestamping, comprising:
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a time generator for generating a representation of the time;
a computing device 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;
a computer printer, coupled to the computing device, for printing a printed document and for automatically outputting the timestamp in optically detectable form to the printed document on printing the printed document; and
means for rendering at least one of the time generator and the computing device resistant to tampering.
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49. An apparatus for secure document timestamping, comprising:
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a time generator for generating a representation of the time;
a computing device 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;
a facsimile machine, coupled to the computing device, for printing a facsimile and for automatically outputting the timestamp in optically detectable form to the facsimile upon printing of the facsimile; and
means for rendering at least one of the time generator and the computing device resistant to tampering.
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50. An apparatus for secure document timestamping, comprising:
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a time generator for generating a representation of the time;
a computing device 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;
a photocopier, coupled to the computing device, for printing a photocopy and for automatically outputting the timestamp in optically detectable form to the photocopy upon printing of the photocopy; and
means for rendering at least one of the time generator and the computing device resistant to tampering.
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Specification