Patent ID: 8195947

Claim:
A method comprising: transforming a first acceptable version of an original message with a first hash function to generate a first message digest of said first acceptable version; transforming a second acceptable version of said original message with a second hash function to generate a second message digest of said second acceptable version, wherein said second message digest is different than said first message digest; generating a first canonicalization comprising said first message digest and a first hash key identifying said first hash function; generating a second canonicalization comprising said second message digest and a second hash key identifying said second hash function, wherein said second hash function is different than said first hash function; combining both said first canonicalization and said second canonicalization to generate a single digital signature comprising said first canonicalization and said second canonicalization; and transmitting said digital signature with said original message, wherein said digital signature separately provides for authentication of both said first acceptable version and said second acceptable version of said original message, wherein said first message digest, when said first acceptable version is authenticated by hashing said original message using said first hash function, provides a complete signature for said original message, and wherein said second message digest, when said second acceptable version is authenticated by hashing said original message using said second hash function, provides another complete signature for said original message.