Patent ID: 6182219
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
Apparatus for authenticating that certain information has been transmitted from a sender via a dispatcher to a recipient, the apparatus comprising:means for providing a set A comprising a plurality of information elements a1, . . . , an, where said information element a1 is originated from the sender and comprising the contents of the information being electronically transmitted to said recipient, and said one or more information elements a2, . . . , an comprising dispatch-related information and comprise at least the following elements:a2--a time indication associated with said dispatch; anda3--information describing the destination of said dispatch,and wherein at least said information element a2 is provided in a manner that is resistant to or indicative of tampering by either of said sender and said recipient; andan authenticator functioning as a non-interested third party with respect to the sender and the receiver and having(1) means for associating said dispatch-related information with said element a1 by generating authentication-information comprising a representation of at least said elements a1, a2 and a3, said representation comprising a set of one or more elements, each comprising a representation of one or more elements of said set A; and(2) means for securing at least part of said authentication-information against tampering of said sender and recipient;wherein at least one of the means for associating and for securing comprises means for generating a new set B, said set B comprising one or more information elements b1, . . . bm, each element bi comprising a representation of a subset Si, said representation being expressive as a function Fi of the elements of said subset Si, where said subset Si comprises a digital representation of at least one element of said set A, and where said functions Fi can be different.