System and method for authenticating documents

摘要

A data processing system for distributing and authenticating documents from a plurality of parties to a recipient data processing apparatus is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of document distribution devices each configured to generate an original hash value from the content of a file containing a document to be distributed. A recipient data processing apparatus is configured to generate an original super hash value from the plurality of the original hash values, and to distribute the original super hash value to each of the document distribution devices. The system provides assurance that distributed documents have not been tampered with during communication, by an unscrupulous distributing party, or by an unscrupulous recipient by only submitting a hash value of the document to be distributed. The hash value provides for assurance at the eventual recipient of the document that no changes to the document have been made.

主权项

1. A document distribution device for distributing a document to a recipient data processing apparatus via a data communications network, the document distribution device comprising:
a data processing apparatus comprising a processor, the data processing apparatus configured to process applications software for generating an electronic document, to encrypt the electronic document produced by the applications software using a public key associated with the document distribution device prior to being communicated to the recipient data processing apparatus, and to generate an original hash value from the electronic document; and a communication interface configured to communicate the original hash value to the recipient data processing apparatus before a predetermined event via the data communications network, and, after the predetermined event, to communicate the electronic document to the recipient data processing apparatus via the data communications network, wherein the predetermined event includes expiration of a time limit.