Authenticating the contents of e-documents

Abstract

In sending email documents, a method for authenticating the email and attachment(s), is presented. The sender sends an original email, and attachment(s), to: the recipient(s), and an email copy, cc: to an authentication service. The authentication service encrypts the email and attachment(s); and returns the encrypted file to both the sender and the recipient(s). Either the sender or the recipients can return the encrypted file to the authentication service for unencryption and reproduction of the exact original email and attachment(s). Whoever returns the encrypted file for authentication will be notified that the file was either altered or the unencrypted contents (exact reproduction of original email and attachments) will be returned, via email. The sender and recipients require no additional software other than their existing email communication software running on a host electronics platform. The authentication service retains no data from the aforementioned process.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.