The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 27, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 29, 1998
Frank W. Sudia, New York, NY (US);
Peter C. Freund, New York, NY (US);
Stuart T. F. Huang, Washington, DC (US);
CertCo Inc., New York, NY (US);
Abstract
A multi-step signing system and method uses multiple signing devices to affix a single signature which can be verified using a single public verification key. Each signing device posesses a share of the signature key and affixes a partial signature in response to authorization from a plurality of authorizing agents. In a serial embodiment, after a first partial signature has been affixed, a second signing device exponentiates the first partial signature. In a parallel embodiment, each signing device affixes a partial signature, and the plurality of partial signatures are multiplied together to form the final signature. Security of the system is enhanced by distributing capability to affix signatures among a plurality of signing devices and by distributing authority to affix a partial signature among a plurality of authorizing agents.