Patent ID: 6792536
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: G06F,G06Q,G07F,H04L

Abstract:
A system for maintaining trust in the content of a digital data file, comprising:a trusted time source to provide a certifiable time for an unalterable time stamp, wherein said certifiable time confirms at least one of said file's access creation, modification, receipt, or transmission; means for receiving a request to save the file from a user; first means for saving the file at a moment in time; means for retrieving from said trusted time source a date and a time corresponding to said moment in time, wherein said moment in time is substantially the current time at said trusted time source corresponding to receipt of said request; first means for appending said date and said time retrieved from said trusted time source to said saved file; first means for signing said saved file with said date and said time retrieved from said trusted time source appended thereto; means for hashing said signed file to produce a digest; second means for signing said digest with a key to produce a certificate; second means for appending said certificate to said saved file; and second means for saving said saved file with said certificate appended thereto.