Patent ID: 7730298

Claim:
A method for communicating with an intermediate computer coupled between a first computer disposed at a first location and a second computer disposed at a second location, the method comprising: receiving, by the intermediate computer from the first computer via a network, a document signed and encrypted at the first location in accordance with a first signing and a first encryption algorithm; decrypting the received document, by the intermediate computer, in accordance with the first encryption algorithm to obtain a decrypted received document and a received signature; computing, by the intermediate computer using the first signing algorithm, a signature from a value derived from the decrypted received document; verifying the decrypted received document, by the intermediate computer, by comparing the received signature with the computed signature; determining, by the intermediate computer, a second signing and a second encryption algorithm used by the second computer at a second location to decrypt and to verify the document; re-signing and re-encrypting, by the intermediate computer, the verified decrypted received document with the determined second signing and the second encryption algorithm; and transmitting, by the intermediate computer, the re-signed and re-encrypted document to the second computer at the second location via said network or a second network.