Systems and methods for authenticating an electronic message
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorsLeo J. Campbell, Jon L. Cook, Charles R. Chamberlain, Michael J. McGrath, Isadore Schoen
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Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for authenticating electronic messages. A data structure is generated by a computer server which allows for the authentication of the contents and computer server identity of a received electronic message and provides a trusted stamp to authenticate when the message was sent. Data which can authenticate the message, the computer server identity, and the time the message was sent is included into a data structure which is called an Electronic PostMark (EPM).
Claims5
A method for requesting authentication of an electronic message, performed by a sender client, comprising the steps of:
- receiving by a computer, message data and a recipient electronic address from a sender;
- creating a hash value from the message data;
- establishing a connection with an authentication server;
- sending the hash value, the recipient electronic address, and an identifier value, as an electronic postmark, to the authentication server at a predetermined time;
- sending an authentication request to the authentication server
- storing a copy of the hash value in a log file;
- and
- creating a digest of the log file.
A system for authenticating an electronic message containing message data and an electronic address, comprising:
- a receiver that receives the electronic message from a sender;
- a digest component that creates a digest of the message data;
- a stamp component that appends a temporal stamp to the digest;
- a signing component that signs the digest and the temporal stamp with a digital signature;
- a sender that sends, at a predetermined time, the digest, the temporal stamp, an identifier value, and the digital signature to the electronic address as an electronic postmark;
- an authenticating server that authenticates the digest, the temporal stamp, the unique value, and the digital signature;
- a database that stores a copy of the digest, the temporal stamp, the unique value, and the digital signature in a log file;
- and
- a log digest component that creates a digest of the log file.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.