Apparatus to create and/or verify digital signatures having a secure time element and an identifier of the apparatus

• US 7,000,114 B1
• Filed: 04/14/2000
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Hasebe, Takayuki, Kotani, Seigo, Akiyama, Ryota, Sasaki, Takaoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Jr., Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Jung W.
• Application Number:
  US09/549,551
• Time in Patent Office: 2,132 Days
• Field of Search: 713/176, 713/170, 713/180
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/30 Compression, e.g. Merkle-Damgard construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3297 involving time stamps, e.g. generation of time stamps

Abstract

In a signature creating apparatus, a clock generates a time stamp and in which time can be set only by a computer installed in a certificate authority center. Further, connecting sections connects an apparatus ID for specifying an apparatus and the time stamp and personal identification information for identifying an implementor to a plain-text so as to create data for the signature. A signature creating circuit encrypts the data for the signature using a signature creating key or the like and generates the signature. A connecting section connects the signature to the data for the signature and transmits the data as data after signature.

Claims

1. A signature creating apparatus which creates and connects a digital signature, said signature creating apparatus comprising:

a clock in which time information is set only by an external time authentication authority;

an ID storing unit which stores an apparatus ID for specifying the creating apparatus using a form capable of preventing interpolation;

a personal identification storing unit which stores personal identification information for specifying a person who has a proper right to update stored contents;

a first connecting unit which creates connection data by connecting plain-text, the time information, the apparatus ID, and the personal identification information that identifies a person using the creating apparatus in a predetermined order;

a signature creating unit which creates the digital signature using the connection data created by said first connecting unit and a key used only for creating a digital signature;

a second connecting unit which creates signed data by connecting the digital signature with the connection data, and

a confirming unit which confirms a working state of said clock,

wherein the personal identification information is stored within the signature creating apparatus using a form capable of preventing interpolation, the signature creating unit encrypts the connection data to create the digital signature, the second connecting unit outputs the signal data to be transmitted to an external network, said signature creating unit creates the digital signature only when said confirming unit confirms that said clock works normally, stops using the key used only for creating the signature when said confirming unit confirms that said clock does not work normally, and creates an alternate digital signature using connected information which does not include the time information and using a key other than the key used only for creating the signature.

2. The signature creating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a storage unit which stores the personal identification information;

a judging unit which judges as to whether or not a person who updates stored contents of said storage unit is a person who has proper right; and

an updating unit which updates the stored contents of said storage unit only when said judging unit has judged that the person who updates is the person who has proper right.

3. The signature creating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an unrewritable storage unit in which the apparatus ID is stored.

4. The signature creating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit which sets the time information according to a time setting request, said setting unit being installed in the time authentication authority.

5. The signature creating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a correcting unit which corrects said clock automatically, said correcting unit being installed in the time authentication authority.

6. A signature creating apparatus which creates and connects a digital signature using a common key method, said signature creating apparatus comprising:

an ID storing unit which stores an apparatus ID for specifying the creating apparatus using a form capable of preventing interpolation;

a personal identification storing unit which stores personal identification information for specifying a person who has a proper right to update stored contents;

a first connecting unit which creates connection data by connecting the apparatus ID, plain-text, personal identification information that identifies a person using the creating apparatus, and time information in a predetermined order;

a signature creating unit which creates the digital signature using the connection data created by said first connecting unit and a common key used only for creating a digital signature;

a second connecting unit which creates signed data by connecting the digital signature with the connection data; and

a confirming unit which confirms a working state of said clock,

wherein the personal identification information is stored within the signature creating apparatus using a form capable of preventing interpolation, and the signature creating unit encrypts the connection data to create the digital signature, and the second connecting unit outputs the signed data to be transmitted to an external network, said signature creating unit creates the digital signature only when said confirming unit confirms that said clock works normally, stops using the key used only for creating the signature when said confirming unit confirms that said clock does not work normally, and creates an alternate digital signature using connected information which does not include the time information and using a key other than the key used only for creating the signature.

7. A digital signature creating apparatus comprising:

a clock which creates time information;

an ID storing unit which stores an apparatus ID for specifying the creating apparatus using a form capable of preventing interpolation;

a personal identification storing unit which stores personal identification information for specifying a person who has a proper right to update stored contents, the apparatus ID and the personal identification information being stored in a form capable of preventing interpolation;

a first connecting unit which creates connection data by connecting plain-text, the time information, the apparatus ID, and the personal identification information that identifies a person using the creating apparatus in a predetermined order;

a signature creating unit which creates the digital signature using the connection data created by said first connecting unit and a key used only for creating a digital signature;

a second connecting unit which creates signed data by connecting the digital signature to the connection data created by the first connecting unit, the signed data being transmitted to an external network as signal data; and

a confirming unit which confirms a working state of said clock, wherein

said signature creating unit creates the digital signature only when said confirming unit confirms that said clock works normally, stops using the key used only for creating the signature when said confirming unit confirms that said clock does not work normally, and creates an alternate digital signature using connected information which does not include the time information and using a key other than the key used only for creating the signature.