Patent ID: 7765396

Claim:
A data authentication method adapted to execute on an agent based system comprising a first microcomputer having stored instructions thereon which when executed on a programmed processor perform the method steps of a first agent, a second microcomputer having stored instructions thereon which when executed on a programmed processor perform the method steps of a second agent, a third microcomputer having stored instructions thereon which when executed on a programmed processor perform the method steps of a trusted third party, the data authentication method comprising the steps of generating a random key by the first agent, generating a unique agent identifier by the first agent by using a static value stored in the agent based system, handing over the random key and the unique agent identifier of the first agent to the trusted third party, saving the random key and the unique agent identifier of the first agent by the trusted third party, creating a signature by generating a unique identifying value from data using an identifying value creating algorithm and encrypting said unique identifying value using said random key by said first agent, sending said data and said signature, a unique trusted third party identifier and said unique agent identifier by the first agent to the second agent, receiving said data and said signature, the unique trusted third party identifier and said unique agent identifier by said second agent, requesting said random key from said trusted third party by handing over said unique agent identifier of the first agent received to the trusted third party by said second agent, handing over said random key from said trusted third party to said second agent, generating the unique identifying value from said data received from said first agent using said identifying value creating algorithm by said second agent, creating a decrypted signature by decrypting said signature using said random key by the second agent, and authenticating said data by comparing said unique identifying value to said decrypted signature by said second agent wherein the first agent and second agent migrate from among a plurality of platforms.