Methods and systems for data authentication services
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorsClayton C Bonnell, Kelley A Sullivan
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Abstract
Methods and systems for electronic document authentication are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of generating an electronic postmark includes receiving, via a server, a request message from an electronic network, the request message comprising request data including payload data and meta data, generating a timestamp in response to receiving the message, hashing the payload data to generate a payload hash, digitally signing the metadata, the payload hash, and the timestamp to generate a digital signature, generating a response message, the response message generated to comprise the metadata, the payload hash, the timestamp, and the digital signature; and transmitting the response message onto the electronic network.
Claims9
A method of providing an electronic identification, comprising
- receiving, from a requestor, a request for a barcode, the request received via a network interface over an electronic network and the request including a weight of a mail piece;
- decoding the request;
- determining, from the decoded request:
- an identifier of the requestor,
- an identifier of a user of the requested barcode, and
- one or more physical parameters of the mail piece, the one or more physical parameters including the weight of the mail piece;
- generating based on the decoded request, an electronic barcode;
- associating the electronic barcode with the requestor, the user, and the one or more physical parameters of the mail piece in a data store;
- digitally signing the electronic barcode, resulting in a digital signature comprising a timestamp;
- generating, based on the digital signature, an electronic postmark, the generated electronic postmark comprising:
- a binary message including a payload including the identifier of the requestor and the one or more physical parameters of the mail piece;
- and
- a digital image encoding the payload including the identifier of the requestor and the one or more physical parameters of the mail piece;
- generating a response message comprising the electronic barcode, the electronic postmark including the binary message and the digital image, and the digital signature;
- transmitting the response message to the requestor via the electronic network;
- and
- printing a barcode corresponding to the electronic barcode using a barcode printer.
An apparatus for providing a barcode, comprising
- an electronic barcode printer;
- a service providing computer, comprising an electronic hardware processor, and
- an electronic hardware memory, operably connected to the electronic hardware processor,
- wherein the electronic hardware memory stores:
- a service oriented architecture module, including instructions that configure the electronic hardware processor to:
- receive, from a requestor, a request for a barcode, the request received over the electronic network and including a weight of a mail piece,
- decode the request,
- determine, from the decoded request:
- an identifier of the requestor,
- an identifier of a user of the requested barcode, and
- one or more physical parameters of the mail piece, the one or more physical parameters including the weight of the mail piece;
- a barcode module including instructions that configure the electronic hardware processor to generate based on the decoded request, a electronic barcode;
- an association module including instructions that configure the electronic hardware processor to:
- associate the electronic barcode corresponding to the requested barcode with the requestor, the user, and the one or more physical parameters of the mail piece in a data store,
- digitally sign the electronic barcode to generate a digital signature comprising a timestamp;
- generate, based on the digital signature, an electronic postmark, the generated electronic postmark comprising:
- a binary message including a payload including the identifier of the requestor and the one or more physical parameters of the mail piece;
- and
- a digital image encoding the payload including the identifier of the requestor and the one or more physical parameters of the mail piece;
- wherein the service oriented architecture module includes further instructions that configure the electronic hardware processor to:
- generate a response message comprising the electronic barcode, the electronic postmark including the binary message and the digital image, and the digital signature, and
- transmit the response message to the requestor over the electronic network, and
- wherein the client computer is further configured to cause the barcode printer to print a barcode corresponding to the electronic barcode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.