Document or message security arrangements using a numerical hash function

• US 6,772,342 B1
• Filed: 04/03/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William Mcmullan Hawthorne
• Original Assignee: William Mcmullan Hawthorne
• Inventors: Hawthorne, William McMullan
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nobahar, Abdulhakim
• Application Number:
  US09/463,345
• Time in Patent Office: 1,583 Days
• Field of Search: 380/28, 380/25, 380/55, 713/176, 708/491
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3236 using cryptographic hash functions

Abstract

A document or message is protected against forgery or repudiation by processing a selected part or parts of the text of the document or message to form a hash, usually of fewer characters than the selected part or parts of the text. The processing comprises retrieving numerical values which define the respective characters of the selected part or parts of the text and making a calculation using the numerical values of the successive characters. Preferably the hash is added to the text.

Claims

1. An apparatus which is arranged to process a selected part or selected parts of the text of a document or message to form a hash, the hash being of fewer characters than the selected part or parts of the text, the processing comprising retrieving numerical values which define the respective characters of the selected part or parts of the text and making a calculation using the numerical values of the successive characters of said selected part or parts of the text, the calculation made in respect of each said character using the result of the calculation made in respect of at least one previous character and also using one of a predetermined set of prime numbers, and each said calculation using an interim result to determine which of said set of prime numbers is used to continue that calculation.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which is arranged to receive or create said text in electronic form, then process said text to derive said hash.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, arranged to add said hash to said text.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, arranged to output text, with the added hash.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, arranged to output said text and its hash separately, or to store one and output the other.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, arranged for the or each said part of said text to be identified by predetermined characters or combinations of characters immediately preceding and following it.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which each said identifier comprises a series of tilde marks.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said numerical values of the respective characters of the selected text are their ASCII values.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which an alphabet which includes all said characters is restricted to all keystrokes having ASCII values in the range 32 to 125 inclusive.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, arranged so that the calculations made for a first plurality of characters use successive ones of a set of initial variables.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, arranged so that said processing involves at least a second pass over the selected part or parts of said text.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, arranged so that at the end of said processing, the hash is formed by taking selected digits from the results obtained in a final plurality of said calculation.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, arranged such that said hash is seeded with secret information.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, arranged such that said processing is carried out using secret initial variables.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, arranged to encrypt said hash.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, arranged to store said hash and the encrypted hash formed from it.

17. A process of forming a hash from a selected part or from selected parts of the text of a document or message, the process comprising retrieving numerical values which define the respective characters of the selected part or parts of said text and making a calculation using the numerical values of the successive characters of said selected part or parts of the text, the calculation in respect of each said character using the result of the calculation made in respect of at least one previous character and also using one of a predetermined set of prime numbers, wherein each said calculation uses an interim result to determine which of said set of prime numbers is used to continue the calculation, said hash being of fewer characters than said selected part or parts of the text.

18. A process as claimed in claim 17, in which the calculations made for a first plurality of said characters also use successive ones of a set of initial variables.