Patent ID: 6393566
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
A machine-implemented method for time-stamping and signing a digital message to establish the date and time when said message was received by a first machine, comprising the machine implemented steps of:providing for the inputting of said message into said first machine; providing for the coordination of the time of said first machine with Universal Coordinated Time (UTC); providing for the addition of a time-stamp to said message, said time stamp being the Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) at which said first machine receives said message; providing a procedure for checking the time accuracy of said first machine to verify the accuracy of the time-stamp; providing for the computation of a hash code for the time-stamped message with a specific hashing procedure; providing for the computation of a digital signature for the hashed time-stamped message utilizing a private key; and providing for outputting the signed hashed time-stamped message.