Architecture for a unified synchronous and asynchronous sealed transaction

摘要

The present invention allows multiple stops in a complete transmission and retains the history and integrity of the stops, as well as any modifications made by the stop point along the way. The invention works whether the transmission consists of synchronous or asynchronous protocols. The invention is specifically designed to operate when both protocols are present in the same transmission. The invention keeps a history of the stop by chaining SignedData objects together and using the related message digest signed attribute for the linkages. This ability to blend two different protocols is not available in other transmission techniques involving only one hop between entities. The technique of the invention retains the original identity and signature of the original sender, as well as the integrity of the original message.