Patent ID: 7353386
Filing Date: 2008-04-01
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of authenticating digital data distributed between a plurality of data segments linked to each other in accordance with a chosen chaining relationship, each data segment being associated with an authentication signature, the method comprising: authenticating said plurality of segments in accordance with a chosen authentication algorithm, adapted to calculate a signature value for each successive segment in a chained and iterative manner and to compare the value of said signature calculated in this way with said associated signature, the next segment being authenticated in said event of a positive result on comparing said current segment and said first segment being authenticated on the basis of at least one function from an authentication library contained in non-rewritable memory, providing at least one segment forming an executable authentication plug-in previously authenticated by at least one authentication function from said authentication library and linked to said plurality of segments in accordance with said chaining relationship, and in response to a request for authentication of a plurality of segments chained in accordance with said chaining relationship in this way, wherein the chaining relationship provides an order for the authentication of said plurality of data segments, and wherein the chaining relationship is such that the signature value of a current data segment comprises an identifier of the signature value of a next data segment, authenticating each successive segment and, in the case of a segment requiring said authentication plug-in, executing said authentication plug-in in order to authenticate said segment submitted in this way to said authentication plug-in.