DE10049712A1 - Producing electronic signatures involves using digitized signature automatically cleared from temporary memory during printing; signature data cannot be accessed outside the process - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves using a digitizing tablet, temporarily storing the digitized signature, adding its modulation for laser modulation of a printer, forming a hash code with the laser modulation during printing and storing the data producing the print image as an electronically signed document. The signature is automatically cleared from temporary memory during printing and signature data cannot be accessed outside the process. The method involves providing a real signature on a digitizing tablet or similar after submission of the document to be signed, temporarily storing the digitized signature, adding modulation of the signal for laser modulation of a printer using a data bus between a controller and a printing mechanism, forming a hash code with the laser modulation during printing and storing the data producing the print image as an electronically signed document. The digitized signature is automatically cleared from the temporary memory during printing and the signature data cannot be accessed outside the process.

Description

The invention relates to a method for creating electronics signatures on electronic data processing documents created.

Electronic communication and electronic documents archiving and shipping win both for the Ge business as well as in the private sector due to their ho Speed and reliability are becoming increasingly important tung. However, it is necessary to have security with the Assignment of the sender of the electronic message or the to reach electronically archived documents at for example a legally binding contract on elektroni to be able to complete it. Also must be guaranteed be that the recipient of an electronically transmitted Do can be sure that this will remain unchanged in the Form created by the sender.

Directive 1999/93 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 1999 on a Community framework The conditions for electronic signatures are defined by electro African signature as "data in electronic form, the others Data attached or logically linked to them and the serve for authentication ".

It is common to have electronic or digital signatures through a To generate methods as it is in the font "digital signature" of the German Industry and Trade Day, DIHT, in August 1998 is described.

A PC with a chip card is required for this procedure ser, a chip card with a signature key, security mo modules for the PC and suitable software with signature function. After a file is created on the PC and viewed through a viewer  was shown, the chip card is in the chip card reader introduced a PIN code and entered the file through the Signed attaching a digital signature.

It is disadvantageous here that this method uses a chip card PIN code required.

On the one hand, there is a risk of losing the chip card misuse of the chip card by a finder or design the one who uses the PIN code to document the chip can digitally sign the card.

Secondly, it is necessary to use a PIN code, which the chip card holder will receive when using the card must wait to be able to sign. A loss this PIN code makes the chip card unusable.

The object of the invention is to elek a method for creating tronic signatures on previously using electronic data processing to create documents that the known disadvantages and secure authentication an electronic document.

The object of the invention is achieved by a method for the first electronic signatures on electronic means Data processing documents created according to the characteristics of claim 1 solved.

The starting point of the method is particularly prominent here to lift. The inventive method only intervenes in a document currently in print and links it logically with a digitized signature.

The print data stream of a PC is transformed into the Printer creates a bitmap, which in turn is in one of the La Control of a serial data stream to be processed by a printer  is converted. This conversion is said to follow be called laser modulation. The laser modulation from the bitmap saved in the controller only takes place when printing starts, i.e. the printer is started sets is.

The method according to the invention does not start until this time on. After taking note of a document to be signed a signature, for example, on a digitizing board continuous, digitized and cached. Now is the end When the document is printed, the data from digitali mixed signature for laser modulation, that in the final printed and saved document this signature is linked to or on the document is recognizable.

Furthermore, a hash code is digitized over the one around the Signature extended information content of laser modulation formed during the printing process. This is a later one Checking the stored document for authenticity possible using a program installed at the recipient. It is the hash code with the assigned document compared and a deviation of the document from the original recognized.

After such a review of an electronically transmitted telten document ensures that the on the document signature provided for this document de, since at the starting point of the method according to the invention ne manipulation is possible.

The digitized hand signal is used during the off print deleted from the clipboard. It will be for the Printout read out from the buffer destructively. This ensures that every newly created document will also be re-signed after verification by the sub signatory. In this context, it is also important  that the cache is not accessed in this way that the digitized signature can be misused is applied. The signature is made for a specific ge checked document and can only be printed on it become. A link to another or a different one This document is not possible.

By expanding the process to include information appropriate to the time and place of the creation of the document this is easier to determine.

The recipient of the document can thus read when and where the document was created, here manipu ration is excluded that the information is not can be entered by the user, but by means of egg The receiver built into the printer is always updated be received. Coming as sources of information radio transmitter for the transmission of verified time information and Global Positioning Systems.

Claims (3)

1. Method for creating electronic signatures on documents previously created by means of electronic data processing, characterized in that
after taking note of the document to be signed, a handwritten signature is made on a digitizing tablet or a comparable device,
the digitized signature is temporarily stored,
the modulation of the digitized signature for laser modulation of a started printer is added by means of a data bus between controller and printing unit,
a hash code is formed about the information content of the laser modulation which is expanded by the digitized signature during the printing process and
the last data of the extended laser modulation generating the print image are stored identically as an electronically signed document,
wherein the digitized hand signal is automatically deleted from the buffer during printing of the signed document and
the data of the digitized signature in the buffer cannot be accessed outside of this procedure. 2. Process for creating electronic signatures according to claim 1, characterized in that
the laser modulation of the started printer, information about the date and time of the printout are added and
the hash code is formed about the expanded information content of the laser modulation during the printing process. 3. The method for creating electronic signatures according to claim 1, characterized in that
the laser modulation of the started printer, information about the satellite-determined location of the executing printer is added and
the hash code is formed about the expanded information content of the laser modulation during the printing process.