Patent ID: 7543152

Claim:
A method for handling, within a communication system comprising a distributed domain and a central domain, electronic records that contain predictions of the outcome of a certain incident, comprising: before the outcome of the incident is known, generating, within the distributed domain a plurality of electronic records that contain predictions of the outcome of the incident; after the outcome of the incident is known, conveying the electronic records from the distributed domain to the central domain and within the central domain; determining which of the electronic records contain correct predictions of the outcome of the incident; furnishing, within the distributed domain, each of the electronic records with a cryptographically protected proof of a certain moment of time associated with the generation of the electronic record, the proof being configured to indicate that the respective record was created prior to an entry deadline, the entry deadline being not later than the time the outcome of the event is known, by receiving an external clock signal into a protected integrated circuit, receiving an electronic record into said protected integrated circuit, receiving a local real time clock signal into said protected integrated circuit, said local real time clock signal being simultaneously used for synchronising at least one operation belonging to a category of Media Access Control operations, furnishing said electronic record with a cryptographically protected proof of a certain moment of time through the application of an algorithm read from a storage location within said protected integrated circuit , the algorithm using both said local clock signal and said external clock signal; outputting the electronic record furnished with a cryptographically protected proof of a certain moment of time from said protected integrated circuit; and accepting, within the central domain, only those of the electronic records conveyed thereto as valid for which the cryptographically protected proof of the certain moment of time associated with the generation of the electronic record shows that said certain moment of time was not later in time than the entry deadline.