System and method for electronic transmission, storage and retrieval of authenticated documents

(22) Starting day (24) Running day (41) Aim. avail.

<td> 20005571 2000.11.03</td><td>(86) Int. Day and application number</td><td>1999.05.04, PCWS99 / 06563</td>

<td> 1999.05.04</td><td>(85) Continuation Day</td><td> 2000.11.03</td>

<td> 2001.01.03</td><td>(30) Priority</td><td>1998.05.04, US, 72079</td>

(71) Seeker (72) Inventor (74) Proxy

Eoriginal Inc, Suite 800, 323 West Camden Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, US

Stephen F Bisbee, Glyndon, MD, US

Jack J. Moskowitz, Ellicott City, MD, US

Douglas H. Trotter, Baltimore, MD, US

Michael W. White, Baltimore, MD, US

Oslo Patentkontor AS, 0306 Oslo (54) Designation System and method for electronic transmission, storage and recovery of authenticated documents (57) Summary Methods and apparatus are provided which implement digital signature and / or encryption for electronic transmission, storage and recovery of authenticated documents, and which allows the establishment of the identity of the originator of an electronic document and the integrity of the information in such a document. Taken together, this provides irrevocable proof of the authenticity of the document. The methods and apparatus allow for ------------------------ to bring paperless — commercial transactions, such as -.

real estate transactions and the financial transactions secured by real estate. A certification authority provides tools for initializing and managing the cryptographic material required to sign and seal electronic documents. An authentication center provides third-party verification that a document has been executed and transmitted by the document's originator. The methods and apparatus eliminate the need for hard copies of original documents as far as hard-copy storage. Recovery of an authenticated document -----------_but t — from — au-ten-t if- ication ss enfeer-e t — ka-ngj-ear-e s- when— if at all-