Time Certification via External Observation Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for certifying the time of electronic medical records are inefficient due to the need for frequent communication with authoritative institutions for electronic signatures, leading to high costs and vulnerability to tampering, especially in environments where communication is impossible or frequent updates are necessary.
Innovation Solution
A system that generates signature data by observing natural phenomena or changing objects using observation apparatuses, combining this data with identity certification data to create time certification data, which is then recorded and verified, reducing reliance on authoritative institutions and enhancing security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electronic signatures from authoritative institutions are used to certify document time, then reliability of time certification is improved, but processing time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-generates and stores time certification data (observation data of target objects) before it is needed for document certification. This allows the certification process to simply retrieve and combine pre-computed data rather than performing time-consuming real-time observation and signature generation, thus reducing processing time while maintaining reliability through the use of pre-verified time markers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism using observation data of target objects (such as weather patterns, astronomical phenomena, or other time-varying entities) as a mediator between the document and the authoritative time certification. Instead of directly contacting authoritative institutions for each certification, the system uses this intermediary observation data to establish time certification, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining trustworthiness.
2Reliability
If electronic signatures from authoritative institutions are obtained frequently for frequent document updates, then reliability of time certification is maintained, but cost becomes extremely high
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-generating time certification data based on observation of target objects and storing it for future use. When documents need time certification, the system retrieves appropriate pre-computed certification data rather than generating new signatures for each document update, thereby maintaining reliability while dramatically reducing the quantity of certification operations needed and associated costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating multiple copies of time certification data from the observation of target objects. Instead of obtaining a unique expensive signature for each document, the system copies and reuses time certification information from the observation data, which can be applied to multiple documents without incurring additional costs for each individual certification.
3Reliability
If electronic signature systems require network communication with authoritative institutions, then certification reliability is improved, but functionality is lost in environments without network access
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-generating and caching time certification data locally before network connectivity is required. This allows the system to function independently in environments without network access, as all necessary certification data is already available in local storage, while maintaining the same level of reliability as network-based systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the system to perform time certification autonomously using pre-stored observation data without requiring external authoritative institutions or network communication. The system serves its own certification needs by retrieving and using locally available time certification information, making it fully adaptable to offline environments while maintaining certification reliability.
4Speed
If internal electronic signature systems are used within an organization, then processing speed is improved, but vulnerability to tampering by the organization itself increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary element by using observation data of external target objects (such as weather conditions, astronomical events, or other independent time-varying phenomena) as a mediator that is external to the organization's control. This intermediary provides time certification that is neither generated nor controllable by the organization, thereby preventing internal tampering while maintaining fast processing speeds through local retrieval and combination of the certification data.
Data Source
AI summary
To create signature data which certifies the time when information existed and add it to the information more efficiently than before. A time certification system for certifying the time when information existed, comprising: an identity certification data acquisition section for acquiring identity certification data generated based on the information to certify the identity of the information; a time certification data generation section for observing a target object changing with time elapse from the outside and generating time certification data based on observation data obtained as a result of the observation, in response to an instruction received from a user; a signature data generation section for generating signature data indicating that the information existed at the time when the target object was observed, based on combination of the identity certification data and the time certification data; and an information recording section for recording the signature data in association with the information.