US4893338A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for conveying information for the reliable authentification of a plurality of documents
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1987-12-31
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Granted: 1990-01-09
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Expires: 2007-12-31
Abstract
Abstract A system for conveying information for the reliable authentication of a plurality of documents includes a device for solving a set of polynomial equations to develop a string of characters and having a decryption key therein that, upon application to the string of characters provided, 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. The solution of the set of polynomial equations requires the accumulation of individual documents, each having a random x i and a solution f(x i ) associated therewith.
Inventors
- 👤 Jose Pastor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:14
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; G06F2221/2147; G07B2017/00741; G07B2017/0075; G07B2017/00758; G07B2017/00822; G07B2017/0083; G07B2017/00846; G07B2017/0087
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for authenticating a plurality of documents, said system comprises: an authenticating source, said authenticating source including means for providing a first public key encryption key to a third party; means, associated with said source, for providing an authentication message to said third party in the form of coefficient of a polynomial, said authentication message being encrypted by a second public key encryption key and including the decryption key for said first public key encryption key; means, associated with said third party, for generating variables and values to said polynomial and applying different ones of said variables and value to each of said plurality of documents; means, associated with an authenticating service, for recovering said authentication message from a plurality of different ones of said variables and values; and means, associated with said source, for providing the decryption key corresponding to said second public key encryption key to said authenticating service such that said authentication message can be decrypted.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for authenticating a plurality of documents, said system comprises: an authenticating source, said authenticating source including means for providing a first public key encryption key to a third party; means, associated with said source, for providing an authentication message to said third party in the form of coefficient of a polynomial, said authentication message being encrypted by a second public key encryption key and including the decryption key for said first public key encryption key; means, associated with said third party, for generating variables and values to said polynomial and applying different ones of said variables and value to each of said plurality of documents; means, associated with an authenticating service, for recovering said authentication message from a plurality of different ones of said variables and values; and means, associated with said source, for providing the decryption key corresponding to said second public key encryption key to said authenticating service such that said authentication message can be decrypted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
System as claimed in claim 1 wherein said authentication message is again encrypted using said decryption key for said first public key encryption key.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
System as claimed in claim 1 wherein said authentication message further includes a certification message that, when said message is decrypted, provides plain text verification that said authentication message originated from said authentication source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
System as claimed in claim 3 wherein said third party is a mailer of a plurality of mail pieces and said first public key encryption key is used to encrypt mail related information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
System as claimed in claim 4 wherein said mail related information is applied to each of a plurality of mail documents and each said variables and corresponding values are applied to different ones of said plurality of mail documents.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
System as claimed in claim 1 wherein said generating means includes a random number generator associated therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
System as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for providing said authenticating service with the order of said polynomial.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
System as claimed in claim 7 wherein said polynomial providing means is associated with said authenticating source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
System as claimed in claim 7 wherein said polynomial providing means is associated with said third party.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
148 words
A system for authenticating a plurality of documents, said system comprises: an authenticating source, said authenticating source including means for providing an encryption/decryption key to a third party; means, associated with said source, for providing an authentication message to said third party in the form of coefficients of a polynomial, said authentication message being encrypted by a public key encryption key and including said encryption/decryption key; means, associated with said third party, for generating variables and values to said polynomial and applying different ones of said variables and value to each of said plurality of documents; means, associated with an authenticating service, for recovering said authentication message from a plurality of different ones of said variables and values; and means, associated with said source, for providing the decryption key corresponding to said public key encryption key to said authenticating service such that said authentication message can be decrypted.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
148 words
A system for authenticating a plurality of documents, said system comprises: an authenticating source, said authenticating source including means for providing an encryption/decryption key to a third party; means, associated with said source, for providing an authentication message to said third party in the form of coefficients of a polynomial, said authentication message being encrypted by a public key encryption key and including said encryption/decryption key; means, associated with said third party, for generating variables and values to said polynomial and applying different ones of said variables and value to each of said plurality of documents; means, associated with an authenticating service, for recovering said authentication message from a plurality of different ones of said variables and values; and means, associated with said source, for providing the decryption key corresponding to said public key encryption key to said authenticating service such that said authentication message can be decrypted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
System as claimed in claim 10 wherein said mail related information on said envelope is a truncated portion of the encrypted mail related information.
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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) | 1993-01-08 | 1993-07-10 | 1994-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-08 | 1997-07-10 | 1998-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-08 | 2001-07-10 | 2002-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |