Digital Certification Server for Scanned Document Authenticity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital copies of scanned documents are vulnerable to modification, making it difficult to ensure their authenticity, particularly in applications like digital expense reporting where original documents are required for verification.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that uses a data certification server to recalculate digital signatures for digitally signed data payloads and electronic documents, comparing them for authenticity, and storing certified records in a trusted database with chronological order, using blockchain-like ledger technology for secure and tamper-proof storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If digital copies of scanned documents are created for easy transmission and processing, then productivity and ease of operation are improved, but reliability and authenticity are worsened due to vulnerability to modification
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies digital signatures to documents before they are transmitted or processed. The signature is calculated based on the document content and attached to the document in advance, creating a certified copy that prevents future modifications. This preliminary authentication ensures that when the document is later processed digitally, its authenticity is already established.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a certification server as an intermediary between the original document and its digital copies. The certification server verifies the document, applies digital signatures, and stores certified copies in a trusted database. This intermediary ensures that digital copies maintain their authenticity link to the original without requiring the original physical document to be present during digital processing.
2Reliability
If digital signatures are applied to prevent modification, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The client application automatically performs digital signature calculation and attachment without requiring manual intervention from the user. The system self-manages the certification process by automatically interacting with the certification server, applying signatures to documents, and storing certified copies. This automation reduces the operational burden on users despite the underlying system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The certification server provides multiple functions in a single system: it verifies document authenticity, applies digital signatures, stores certified copies in a trusted database, and provides retrieval capabilities. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate complex systems into a single unified solution, reducing overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If original documents are maintained to prove authenticity, then reliability is improved, but loss of substance and ease of operation are worsened due to storage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates certified digital copies of original documents that contain digital signatures verifying their authenticity. These certified copies can be used in place of original documents for verification purposes, eliminating the need to store and physically handle original documents. The certified copy includes all necessary authentication information to prove its validity without requiring the original physical document.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention is directed to a system and a method for certifying digital copies of original documents such as paper-based expense receipts. A certification server is provided for certifying the authenticity of digitally signed electronic documents and corresponding data payloads transmitted from a client application running on a user device. The certification server is configured, in response to authenticating the transmitted electronic documents and the corresponding data payloads, to generate in a portion of a trusted database associated with the user and/or user organisation linked to the client application, a corresponding data record comprising the authenticated electronic document and associated data items obtained from the authenticated data payload, and accordingly return a unique identification number and a timestamp associated with the generation of the data record.