Patent ID: 6018801
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
A method of authenticating the source of an electronic document located on a computer network comprising the steps of:(a) incorporating a document identifier into said electronic document, said document identifier having identifying information related to said electronic document;(b) generating a verification signal from a verification source, said verification signal containing said identifying information and location information related to the location of said electronic document on said computer network;(c) transmitting said verification signal to a verification system;(d) accessing a data source with said verification system, said data source containing information about said electronic document;(e) comparing said verification signal with said information about said electronic document;wherein if said location information in said verification signal is not contained in said information about said electronic document in said data source, generating an error signal which is transmitted elsewhere on said computer network; andwherein if said location information in said verification signal is contained in said information about said electronic document in said data source, generating a reply signal based upon said identification information about said electronic document in said data source, which is transmitted to said verification source.