US4853961A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reliable document authentication system
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1987-12-18
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Granted: 1989-08-01
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Expires: 2007-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A system for reliably authenticating a document includes a device having a decryption key therein that, upon application to information provided by a user, reveals not only a plain text message indicating the source of the authentication but, in addition, provides the decryption key for use with the information provided by the mailer.
Inventors
- 👤 Jose Pastor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:58
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/10; G07F7/1016; B; B07; B07C; B07C1/00; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/60; G06F21/606; G06F21/64; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00733; G07F7/12; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2107; G06F2221/2147; G07B2017/00741; G07B2017/00758; G07B2017/00846; G07B2017/00854; G07B2017/0087; G07B2017/00895; G07B2017/00911
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A method for authenticating documents sent by a user to an authentication service, comprising the steps of: (a) generation by a third party of a first pair of encryption keys E 1 , D 1 and at least a second pair of encryption keys E i , D i ; (b) said third party: (b1) maintaining said key E 1 in privacy; (b2) providing said key E i to said user; (b3) providing said key D 1 to said authentication service; (b4) encrypting a message M with said key E 1 , said message M comprising said key Di; (b5) providing said encrypted message E 1 [M] to said user; (c) said user: (c1) incorporating said encrypted message E 1 [M] into said document; (c2) encrypting additional information P with said key E i ; (c3) incorporating said additional encrypted information E i [P] into said document; and, (c4) delivering said document to said authentication service; and (d) said authentication service: (d1) decrypting said encrypted message E 1 [M] with said key D 1 to obtain said key D i ; and (d2) decrypting said additional encrypted information E i [P] with said key D i .
Claim 2
Independent Claim
197 words
A method for authenticating documents sent by a user to an authentication service, comprising the steps of: (a) generation by a third party of a first pair of encryption keys E 1 , D 1 and at least a second pair of encryption keys E i , D i ; (b) said third party: (b1) maintaining said key E 1 in privacy; (b2) providing said key E i to said user; (b3) providing said key D 1 to said authentication service; (b4) encrypting a message M with said key E 1 , said message M comprising said key Di; (b5) providing said encrypted message E 1 [M] to said user; (c) said user: (c1) incorporating said encrypted message E 1 [M] into said document; (c2) encrypting additional information P with said key E i ; (c3) incorporating said additional encrypted information E i [P] into said document; and, (c4) delivering said document to said authentication service; and (d) said authentication service: (d1) decrypting said encrypted message E 1 [M] with said key D 1 to obtain said key D i ; and (d2) decrypting said additional encrypted information E i [P] with said key D i .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said third party further encrypts said encrypted message E 1 [M] with said key D i and provides said user with said further encrypted message D i [E 1 [M]] to said user, said user decrypting said further encrypted message D i [E 1 [M]] with said key Ei to obtain said encrypted message E 1 [M].
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said message M further comprises a certification message M 1 , said certification message M 1 including information relating to said document, such as the identity of said user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said authentication service relies, at least in part, upon said certification message M 1 to authenticate said document.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said user is a mailer, said authentication service is a mail delivery service, and said document is a mailing document.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said keys E i , D i are altered from time to time by said third party so as to increase the security of the system.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
108 words
A system for use by a third party to authenticate documents sent by a user to a third party, comprising: (a) means for generating a first pair of encryption keys E 1 , D 1 and at least a second pair of encryption keys E i , D i ; (b) means for providing said key E i to said user; (c) means for providing said key D 1 to said authentication service; (d) means for encrypting a message M with said key E 1 ; said message comprising said key D i ; and (e) means for providing said encrypted message E 1 [M] to said user.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
108 words
A system for use by a third party to authenticate documents sent by a user to a third party, comprising: (a) means for generating a first pair of encryption keys E 1 , D 1 and at least a second pair of encryption keys E i , D i ; (b) means for providing said key E i to said user; (c) means for providing said key D 1 to said authentication service; (d) means for encrypting a message M with said key E 1 ; said message comprising said key D i ; and (e) means for providing said encrypted message E 1 [M] to said user.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said encrypting means further includes means for further encrypting said encrypted message E 1 [M] with said key Di.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said message M further comprises a certification message M 1 including information relating to said document, such as the identity of said user.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said user is a mailer, said authentication service is a mail delivery service, and said document is a mailing document.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 7 further comprising means for altering said key E i , D i from time to time.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
115 words
A system for use by a user to authenticate documents sent by said user to an authentication service, comprising: (a) means for receiving a key E i from a third party, said key E i forming part of a pair of encryption/decryption keys E i , D i ; (b) means for receiving a message E 1 [M] encrypted with a key E 1 , said message M comprising said key D i ; (c) means for incorporating said encrypted message E 1 [M] into said document; (d) means for encrypting additional information P with said key E i ; and, (e) means for incorporating said encrypted additional information E i [P] into said document.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
115 words
A system for use by a user to authenticate documents sent by said user to an authentication service, comprising: (a) means for receiving a key E i from a third party, said key E i forming part of a pair of encryption/decryption keys E i , D i ; (b) means for receiving a message E 1 [M] encrypted with a key E 1 , said message M comprising said key D i ; (c) means for incorporating said encrypted message E 1 [M] into said document; (d) means for encrypting additional information P with said key E i ; and, (e) means for incorporating said encrypted additional information E i [P] into said document.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said encrypted message E 1 [M] is further encrypted with said key D i and receiving means further includes means for decrypting said further encrypted message D i [E 1 [M]] with said key D i .
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said user is a mailer, said authentication service is a mail delivery service, and said document is a mailing document.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 12 further comprising means for receiving an altered key E i from time to time.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
126 words
A system for use by an authentication service to authenticate a document said document comprising an encrypted message E 1 [M], said encrypted message E 1 [M] comprising a key D i and said document further comprising additional information encrypted with a key E i , E i [P], said keys forming an encryption decryption pair E i , D i , said system comprising: (a) means for storing a decryption key D 1 , said key D 1 forming an encryption/decryption pair E 1 , D 1 with said key E 1 ; (b) means for decrypting said encrypted message E 1 [M] to obtain said key D i ; (c) means for decrypting said additional encrypted information E i [P] to obtain information P.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
126 words
A system for use by an authentication service to authenticate a document said document comprising an encrypted message E 1 [M], said encrypted message E 1 [M] comprising a key D i and said document further comprising additional information encrypted with a key E i , E i [P], said keys forming an encryption decryption pair E i , D i , said system comprising: (a) means for storing a decryption key D 1 , said key D 1 forming an encryption/decryption pair E 1 , D 1 with said key E 1 ; (b) means for decrypting said encrypted message E 1 [M] to obtain said key D i ; (c) means for decrypting said additional encrypted information E i [P] to obtain information P.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said authentication service is a mail service, said document is a mailing document and said information P is included in plain text on said document.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-31 | 1993-01-30 | 1993-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-31 | 1997-01-30 | 1997-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-31 | 2001-01-30 | 2001-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |