Knowledge based system for document authentication (apparatus)

In a data processing system that includes a processor that serves a plurality of users at one or more data terminals and one or more data communication ports, a document authentication system comprising:

• means for interconnecting a first user and a second user with a document stored on said processor;
• means responsive to said second user transmitting a document authentication signal to said processor disabling both said first and said second users from modifying said document;
• means for comparing said received document authentication signal with said document to determine whether said received document authentication signal contains data that matches corresponding data in said document;
• means responsive to said first user transmitting a document authentication signal to said processor subsequent to said second user transmitting a document authentication signal to said processor for authenticating said document inclusive of data contained in said second user document authentication signal.

A document authentication system for interconnecting first and second processors to authenticate a document, a copy of which is located on each of said first and said second processors, comprising:

• means connected to both said first processor and said second processor for communicating with both said first and said second processors;
• means responsive to one of said first or said second processors transmitting a document authentication signal to said document authentication system for disabling both said first and said second processors from modifying said document;
• means for comparing said received document authentication signal with said document to determine whether said received document authentication signal contains data that matches corresponding data in said document;
• means responsive to the other of said first and said second processors transmitting a document authentication signal to said document authentication system for authenticating said document inclusive of data contained in said first and said second processor document authentication signals.

In a data processing system that includes a processor that serves plurality of users at one or more data terminals and one or more data communication ports, a method of document authentication comprising the steps of:

• interconnecting a first user and a second user with a document stored on said processor;
• disabling, in response to said second user transmitting a document authentication signal to said processor, both said first and said second users from modifying said document;
• comparing said received document authentication signal with said document to determine whether said received document authentication signal contains data that matches corresponding data in said document;
• authenticating said document in response to said received document authentication signal matching said corresponding data in said document.

In a data processing system that includes a processor that serves a plurality of users at one or more data terminals and one or more data communication ports, a method of document authentication comprising the steps of:

• interconnecting a first user and a second user with a document stored on said processor;
• disabling both said first and said second users from modifying said document in response to said second user transmitting a document authentication signal to said processor;
• comparing said received document authentication signal with said document to determine whether said received document authentication signal contains data that matches corresponding data in said document;
• authenticating said document, in response to sid first user transmitting a document authentication signal to said processor subsequent to said second user transmitting a document authentication signal to said processor, inclusive of data contained in said document authentication signal.

A method of document authentication for interconnecting first and second processors to authenticate a document, a copy of which is located on each of said first and said second processors, comprising the steps of:

• communicating with both said first and said second processors;
• disabling both said first and said second processors from modifying said document in response to one of said first or said second processors transmitting a document authentication signal to said document authentication system;
• comparing said received document authentication signal with said document to determine whether said received document authentication signal contains data that matches corresponding data in said document;
• authenticating said document in response to the other of said first and said second processors transmitting a document authentication signal to said document authentication system.