Systems and methods for electronic postmarking including ancillary data background
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorCharles R. Chamberlain
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An embodiment of the invention provides a method for performing electronic postmarking of data, including ancillary data is provided. The method includes receiving data from a sender. The method further includes selecting ancillary data. The method further includes generating an electronic postmark including the ancillary data. The method further includes forwarding the data with the electronic postmark including the ancillary data to a receiver.
Claims11
A method for providing an electronic postmark for message data, the postmark including ancillary data, the method comprising:
- receiving message data from a sending user;
- receiving a selection of ancillary data from the sending user;
- generating an electronic postmark including the ancillary data;
- registering use of the ancillary data in the electronic postmark in a database, wherein the database contains data sufficient to authenticate the ancillary data;
- and
- forwarding the message data with the electronic postmark to a receiving user.
A system for providing an electronic postmark for message data, the postmark including ancillary data, the method comprising:
- means for receiving message data from a sending user;
- means for receiving a selection of ancillary data from the sending user;
- means for generating an electronic postmark including the ancillary data;
- means for registering use of the ancillary data in the electronic postmark in a database, wherein the database contains data sufficient to authenticate the ancillary data;
- and
- means for forwarding the message data with the electronic postmark to a receiving user.
A method of processing a message that includes a representation of an electronic postmark for message data, the electronic postmark including ancillary data, the method comprising:
- receiving the message from a sending user;
- generating an electronic postmark, wherein generating an electronic postmark further comprises:
- generating a hash of the message data;
- generating a time and data stamp;
- and
- generating ancillary data based on a selection of ancillary data from the sending user;
- registering use of the ancillary data in the electronic postmark in a database, wherein the database contains data sufficient to authenticate the ancillary data;
- and
- attaching the electronic postmark to the message.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.