Authenticated Hyperlink Encoding in Digital Images
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for verifying the authenticity and integrity of hyperlinks and files on unsecured networks are inefficient, leading to excessive computational overhead and potential delays, especially when dealing with multiple large files, and there is a need for a protocol-independent solution that ensures checking information remains intact across manipulations.
Innovation Solution
The method involves encoding the hyperlink network address and associated file's message authentication code into a digital image, allowing the authenticity and integrity of hyperlinks and files to be verified by extracting and comparing these codes when the hyperlink is activated, ensuring the information remains embedded and intact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single MAC is generated by applying cryptographic hashing to an aggregate of the document and all linked files, then authentication coverage is improved, but computational overhead and verification time increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the authentication process by assigning individual MACs to specific graphic objects (hyperlinks) rather than creating a single aggregate MAC for all files. This allows selective verification of only the relevant hyperlink and its associated file, reducing computational overhead while maintaining authentication coverage for the specific resource being accessed.
2Productivity
If individual MACs are assigned to each linked file, then verification efficiency is improved, but the complexity of managing and processing multiple authentication codes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the MAC data with the graphic object itself (embedding the authentication code within the image or icon). This integration eliminates the need for separate MAC files or complex data structures, simplifying the system architecture while maintaining the ability to verify multiple individual authentication codes efficiently.
3Adaptability or versatility
If checking information is encoded into the hyperlink graphic object, then protocol independence and data integrity are improved, but the size of the graphic object increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by embedding MAC data only in specific portions or regions of the graphic object rather than throughout the entire object. This selective embedding minimizes the increase in graphic object size while maintaining the necessary authentication information and protocol independence.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods and computer programs for verifying the authenticity and integrity of hyperlink addresses and files that are accessible by means of these hyperlink addresses. A system and a method are disclosed for authenticating a file such as an HTML document hyperlinked to a graphic object such as a digital image or to a graphic icon. The hyperlink network address (e.g., the URL of the hyperlink on the Internet) is encoded on a first portion of the graphic object. Checking information such as a MAC digital signature and the hyperlinked file are encoded into a second portion of the same graphic object. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a system and a method are disclosed for verifying the authenticity and integrity of a hyperlink and a file when this hyperlink is activated.