Patent ID: 7797543
Filing Date: 2010-09-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for authenticating an electronic message, comprising the steps performed by a computer of: receiving, at an authentication server, at a predetermined time, the electronic message from a sender computer that automatically generated the electronic message, the electronic message comprising message data and an electronic mail address of a recipient; creating a digest of the message data; appending a temporal stamp and a unique value to the digest; signing the digest, the temporal stamp, and the unique value with a digital signature; sending, from the authentication server, to the recipient, the electronic message and an electronic postmark data structure comprising the digest, the temporal stamp, the unique value, and the digital signature to the electronic mail address, the electronic message being sent from the authentication server as data that is separate from the electronic postmark data structure; authenticating the digest, the temporal stamp, the unique value, and the digital signature; storing, at the authentication server, a copy of the digest, the temporal stamp, the unique value, and the digital signature in a log file; and creating a digest of the log file.