METHODS FOR ESTABLISHING LEGITIMACY OF COMMUNICATIONS

摘要

A method for sending a message to a recipient, which comprises determining a data set associated with the message; accessing an ensemble of precomputed tags corresponding to respective initial data sets, each precomputed tag representing a solution to a computational problem involving the respective initial data set; identifying the precomputed tag in the ensemble for which the corresponding initial data set corresponds to the data set associated with the message; and sending the message and informing the recipient of the identified precomputed tag. The recipient executes a method comprising obtaining a tag associated with the message; determining a data set associated with the message, the data set in some embodiments including a portion extrinsic to the message; determining whether the tag represents a solution to a computational problem involving the data set associated with the message; determining whether the tag was specifically generated for the message, based on the portion extrinsic to the message; and establishing the legitimacy of the message based on the outcomes of the previous steps.