Electronic certification and authentication system
The invention is an automated system that works in the data center of certification offices connected to the internet which enables a member of the any of the certification offices to certify his document electronically from a distance using a computer connected to the internet, digital pad, an electronic pen and a printer.
1. A method comprising:
receiving document information to be certified;
obtaining a signature from a member using a digital pad and an electronic pen;
comparing the obtained signature against at least one previously registered signature, and if the obtained signature matches the previously registered signature then:
selecting a previously stored certification image based on said registered signature;
encrypting the document information using a random key;
encrypting the random key using a system encryption key, wherein said encrypted random key is capable of being decrypted using a system decryption key;
generating a two-dimensional barcode coded to represent the encrypted document information and the encrypted random key; and
printing the document information, the previously stored certification image, and the two-dimensional barcode.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the certification image is selected from the group consisting of: a member signature, a company stamp, and a certification office stamp.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing said document information and an identification associated with the registered signature in a database.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
reading the two-dimensional barcode using a barcode scanner;
decoding the two-dimensional barcode to retrieve the encrypted document information and the encrypted random key;
decrypting the encrypted random key using said system decryption key;
decrypting the encrypted document information using the random key to obtain the document information; and
displaying the document information, thereby enabling comparison between a document bearing the two-dimensional barcode and the displayed document information.
5. A system comprising:
an input device to receive document information corresponding to a document to be certified;
an electronic pen and a digital pad to receive a signature from a user;
a storage device to store a plurality of registered signatures;
a processor to compare the received signature against registered signatures and if the received signature matches at least one registered signature, then to:
select from said storage device a certification image based on said registered signature,
encrypt the document information using a random key;
encrypt the random key using a system encryption key, wherein said encrypted random key is capable of being decrypted using a system decryption key, and
generate a two-dimensional barcode coded to represent the encrypted document information and the encrypted random key; and
a printer to print the document information, the previously stored certification image, and the two-dimensional barcode.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the certification image is selected from the group consisting of: a member signature, a company stamp, and a certification office stamp.
7. The system of claim 5 , wherein said storage device is further to store said document information and an identification associated with the registered signature in a database.
8. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a verification unit, said verification unit comprising:
a scanner to read the two-dimensional barcode;
a processor to:
decode the two-dimensional barcode to retrieve the encrypted document information and the encrypted random key,
decrypt the encrypted random key using said system decryption key, and
decrypt the encrypted document information using the random key to obtain the document information; and
a display to display the document information to a user, thereby enabling the user to compare the document bearing the two-dimensional barcode and the displayed document information.