Patent ID: 6263348
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: G06F,G06Q,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for identifying at an output whether a first personal computer file is different from a second personal computer file, the first computer file and the second computer file each comprising a plurality of values, each value corresponding to at least one key, the apparatus comprising:a hasher having an input operatively coupled to receive at least a portion of the first personal computer file, said portion of the first file comprising at least a portion of at least one of the values corresponding to the at least one key, and at least a portion of the second personal computer file, said portion of the second file comprising at least a portion of at least one of the values corresponding to the at least one key, the hasher for hashing at least a portion of the portion of the first personal computer file to produce a first value and for hashing at least a portion of the portion of the second personal computer file to produce a second value, and for providing at an output the first value and the second value; anda fingerprint compare having a first input coupled to the hasher output for receiving the first and second values, the fingerprint compare for comparing the first value received at the fingerprint compare first input with the second value received at the fingerprint compare first input, the fingerprint compare for generating at an output coupled to the apparatus output a first state responsive to the first value equal to the second value, and a second state responsive to the first value not equal to the second value.