System and method for authenticating documents
First Claim
1. A data processing system for distributing and authenticating documents, the data processing system comprisinga plurality of document distribution devices each configured to generate an original hash value based on an electronic file containing a document to be distributed, wherein the document distribution devices collectively generate a plurality of original hash values;
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receive the original hash values from each of the plurality of document distribution devices via the data communication network,generate an original super hash value from the plurality of the original hash values received, andcommunicate the original super hash to the plurality of document distribution devices,wherein after the predetermined event, the plurality of document distribution devices are configured to;
communicate each of the electronic files to the recipient data processing apparatus,wherein the recipient data processing apparatus is further configured to;
generate a comparative hash value based on the electronic file containing the document received from each of the document distribution devices,generate a comparative super hash value from each of the comparative hash values,communicate the comparative super hash value to each of the document distribution devices, anddetermine whether or not each of the documents of the electronic files received from the document distribution devices have changed from a comparison of at least one of the original hash values and the comparative hash values, and the comparative super hash value and the original super hash value.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A data processing system for distributing and authenticating documents from a plurality of parties to a recipient data processing apparatus is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of document distribution devices each configured to generate an original hash value from the content of a file containing a document to be distributed. A recipient data processing apparatus is configured to generate an original super hash value from the plurality of the original hash values, and to distribute the original super hash value to each of the document distribution devices. The system provides assurance that distributed documents have not been tampered with during communication, by an unscrupulous distributing party, or by an unscrupulous recipient by only submitting a hash value of the document to be distributed. The hash value provides for assurance at the eventual recipient of the document that no changes to the document have been made.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A data processing system for distributing and authenticating documents, the data processing system comprising
a plurality of document distribution devices each configured to generate an original hash value based on an electronic file containing a document to be distributed, wherein the document distribution devices collectively generate a plurality of original hash values; - and
a data communications network configured to communicate each of the original hash values to the recipient data processing apparatus before a predetermined event, the recipient data processing apparatus comprising a processor configured to generate hash values, the recipient data processing apparatus configured to; receive the original hash values from each of the plurality of document distribution devices via the data communication network, generate an original super hash value from the plurality of the original hash values received, and communicate the original super hash to the plurality of document distribution devices, wherein after the predetermined event, the plurality of document distribution devices are configured to; communicate each of the electronic files to the recipient data processing apparatus, wherein the recipient data processing apparatus is further configured to; generate a comparative hash value based on the electronic file containing the document received from each of the document distribution devices, generate a comparative super hash value from each of the comparative hash values, communicate the comparative super hash value to each of the document distribution devices, and determine whether or not each of the documents of the electronic files received from the document distribution devices have changed from a comparison of at least one of the original hash values and the comparative hash values, and the comparative super hash value and the original super hash value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A recipient data processing device configured to authenticate documents received from a plurality of document distribution devices via a data communications network, the recipient data processing device comprising:
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a communications interface configured to receive a plurality of original hash values from the document distribution devices via the data communication network before a predetermined event, wherein the hash values are each generated based on an electronic file containing one of the documents; and a data processing apparatus comprising a processor configured to generate an original super hash value from the plurality of the received original hash values, and communicate the original super hash value to each of the document distribution devices, wherein the data processing apparatus is configured to operate in combination with the communications interface to; receive, after the predetermined event, a plurality of electronic files from the document distribution devices, each of the electronic files containing one of the documents, generate a comparative hash value based on the electronic file received from each of the document distribution devices, generate, using the processor, a comparative super hash value from each of the comparative hash values, communicate the comparative super hash value to the document distribution devices, and determine whether or not each of the documents of the electronic files received from the document distribution devices have changed based on a comparison of at least one of the original hash values and the comparative hash values, and the comparative super hash value and the original super hash value. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer-implemented method for distributing documents, the computer-implemented method comprising:
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generating a plurality of original hash values, each original hash value based on one of a plurality of electronic files, each file representing a document to be distributed; communicating the original hash values to the recipient data processing apparatus before a predetermined event via a data communications network; generating, at the recipient data processing apparatus, an original super hash value based on the plurality of the original hash values; communicating the original super hash value to a plurality of document distribution devices; and
, after the predetermined event,communicating, from the plurality of document distribution devices, each of the electronic files representing a document to the recipient data processing apparatus; generating, at the recipient data processing apparatus, a comparative hash value based on the electronic files representing the documents received from the document distribution devices; generating a comparative super hash value from each of the comparative hash values; and determining whether or not each of the documents of the electronic files received from the document distribution devices have changed based on a comparison of at least one of the original hash values and the comparative hash values, and the comparative super hash value and the original super hash value. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method of authenticating documents received from a plurality of document distribution devices via a data communications network, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of original hash values from the document distribution devices, before a predetermined event, via the data communication network, each original hash value based on one of a plurality of electronic files, each file containing a document to be distributed; generating an original super hash value from the plurality of the original hash values received; communicating the original super hash value to each of the document distribution devices; receiving, after the predetermined event, a plurality of electronic files from the document distribution devices, each received electronic file; generating a comparative hash value based on the received electronic file; generating a comparative super hash value from each of the comparative hash values; communicating the comparative super hash value to the document distribution devices; and determining whether or not each of the documents of the received electronic files from the document distribution devices have changed based on a comparison of at least one of the original hash values, and the comparative hash value and the comparative super hash value and the original super hash value.
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23. A non-transitory computer readable medium having a program for executing a method of authenticating documents received from a plurality of document distribution devices via a data communications network, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of original hash values from the document distribution devices, before a predetermined event, via the data communication network, each original hash value based on one of a plurality of electronic files, each electronic file containing a document to be distributed; generating an original super hash value from the plurality of the original hash values received; communicating the original super hash value to each of the document distribution devices; receiving, after the predetermined event, the plurality of electronic files from the document distribution devices; generating a comparative hash value based on the received electronic files; generating a comparative super hash value from each of the comparative hash values; communicating the comparative super hash value to the document distribution devices; and determining whether or not each of the documents of the received electronic files from the document distribution devices have changed based on a comparison of at least one of the original hash values, and the comparative hash value and the comparative super hash value and the original super hash value.
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24. A data processing apparatus for distributing documents from a plurality of document distribution devices to a recipient data processing apparatus, the data processing apparatus comprising:
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means for generating, for each of the plurality of document distribution devices, a plurality of original hash values each original hash value based on one of a plurality of electronic files, each file representing a document to be distributed; means for communicating the original hash values to the recipient data processing apparatus, before a predetermined event, via a data communications network; means for generating, at the recipient data processing apparatus, an original super hash value based on the plurality of original hash values; means for communicating the original super hash to the plurality of document distribution devices; means for communicating, after the predetermined event, from the plurality of document distribution devices, each of the electronic files representing a document to the recipient data processing apparatus; means for generating, after the predetermined event, at the recipient data processing apparatus, a comparative hash value based on the electronic files representing the documents received from the document distribution devices; means for generating, after the predetermined event, a comparative super hash value from each of the comparative hash values; and means for determining whether or not each of the documents of the electronic files received from the document distribution devices have changed based on a comparison of at least one of the original hash values and the comparative hash values, and the comparative super hash value and the original super hash value.
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Specification