Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Image transmission accuracy verification
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-01
2001-10-02
Grant, II, Jerome (Department: 2724)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Image transmission accuracy verification
C358S434000, C380S045000, C380S044000, C380S030000, C379S093230
Reexamination Certificate
active
06297891
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to electronic transfer systems and methods and more particularly to a system and method which allows for the verification and or certification of documents which have been electronically transferred.
BACKGROUND
During the past decade the sending of documents from one location to another in electronic (soft) form has become ubiquitous. First facsimile (fax) began to replace hard delivery of documents and now E-mail and other forms of electronic transfer are becoming popular. In such electronic transmissions authenticity is becoming more and more of an issue.
At first blush the problem is simply one of not having an “original” signature on the received copy. Thus, systems are being devised to attach an electronic signature which can be authenticated both at the time of reception of the document and at subsequent points in time. Such signatures are necessary for certain document types, particularly when the document is to be used later in a court of law, or before a government official, to prove some contention pertaining to the content of the electronic transmission.
Another problem that exists and that has not been addressed is the fact that because of the speeds and relative ease of electronic transmission several different transmissions may occur in a matter of hours or even minutes, each changing one or more pages of the resultant copy. Traditionally, ambiguities over date are resolved because only one piece of paper could, as a practical matter, physically be delivered bearing a single date. This has all now changed. The same document may now be sent numerous times during the course of a single day and, if desired, different pages can have different content after each transmission. To make matters worse, the same document can be sent from different locations, some far away geographically, all arriving at roughly the same time. In this scenario the issue is not so much authenticity, but rather what document came at what time from which location containing what subject matter.
A need therefor exists in the art of electronic document transfer for establishing a mechanism for later determining the time a transmission was sent, proving where it was sent from, and proving the exact content of the transmission to a high degree of certainty.
Another need exists in the art of electronic document transfer for establishing a mechanism for later determining that a document was not sent at a particular time or that the document did not have a certain content therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects, needs and desires are obtained in a system and method of electronic document transfer in which a code is added to each document or to each page of each document, with the code containing data pertaining to the exact transmission. In one embodiment, each end of the transmission is coupled with a portable processor device which obtains certain bits of information from the other end for inclusion on the transmitted document. The data bits correspond to a special version of the sender's station code, the number of pages, the time, the total bit count of the document transmission, and other data associated with the document and its transmission. This then produces a special indicia to be printed on the received document. The full indicia is not transmitted from the sender, but rather created by the receiving end from the bits sent with the transmission. In this manner, every receiving station of a particular transmission will have a unique indicia, all based upon and generated in response to the bits transmitted with the transmission.
The difference in each indicia at each receiving location is due to the unique characteristics of that station as contained in the indicia. In this manner, the authenticity of each transmission can be determined by comparison of the received bits to the code of the receiving station. Since included in each transmission is the exact time of the reception, and the exact number of received bits, the probability of two transmissions having the same cipher is very remote indeed.
Part of the printed indicia is an encrypted checksum for the document, or each page if desired. In one embodiment, the printed indicia will appear only on the first page of the printed transmitted document, with the checksum for all of the pages encrypted onto this single printed indicia. In a more precise system, and an alternative embodiment, each received page printed is provided with its own indicia, having contained therein a count of bits for that page as well as other information unique to that page. Additionally, the recipient of the document could, if desired, select between the two systems depending upon the level of authentication desired.
In other embodiments, the transfer of the electronic document is accomplished through a system independent from either end of the transmission. The independent system may be utilized for a higher level of authentication or certification as well as additional services. In one embodiment, the independent system provides a high degree of certification by verifying the transmission and receipt of the electronic document from the sending end to the receiving end. Verification by the independent system involves checking data bits associated with the document sent from the sending end against data bits associated with the document received by the receiving end. These data bits may include a special version of the sender's and/or recipient's station code, the number of pages, the time, the total bit count of the document transmission, and other data associated with the document and its transmission. It shall be appreciated that an advantage of such an embodiment is realized in the fact that the document may be directly transmitted by the sender to the receiver with only the verification data bits being communicated to the independent system. Upon verification, the independent system transmits an indicia of certification to the receiving end to be included in the printed document as well as to the sending end for proof of certified delivery.
In another embodiment, the independent system receives the document from the sending end and relays it to the receiving end. Both the receiving and sending of the document by the independent system involve verification of the document's contents against data bits associated with the document's transmission. These data bits correspond to a special version of the sender's or recipient's station code, the number of pages, the time, the total bit count of the document transmission, or other data associated with the document and its transmission. Upon verification of receipt of the document by the receiving end, the independent system issues an indicia of certification to the receiving end to be included in the printed document as well as to the sending end for proof of certified delivery.
An advantage of the utilization of the independent system in the above manner is that any sender's certification indicia can be later authenticated with a duplicate indicia stored within the independent system. Moreover, the transmission of the electronic document through an independent system provides an opportunity for additional services at the independent system. In one embodiment, the independent system provides document archiving services for documents transmitted there through.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructi
Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
Grant II Jerome
Stamps.com Inc.
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