Third party authentication of files in digital systems

1. A file authentication requesting device that stores a computer program for requesting third party authentication of files in digital systems, the device comprising:

a confirmation request device that processes at least one file to generate attributes and generates a request for a confirmation receipt from an authenticator device authenticating attributes of the at least one file;

a transferring device that transfers the generated attributes of the at least one file to be authenticated and an identification of at least one of the requesting device and a user of the requesting device to the authenticator device from the requesting device, the attributes comprising at least an electronic fingerprint of the at least one file; and

a receiving device that receives the confirmation receipt comprising at least authenticated file attributes after an authentication by the authenticator device, the authentication comprising at least a unique digital characterization of the attributes;

wherein, at least one file authentication is received from the authenticator device in response to the request; and

whereby the transferring device need not transfer the at least one file to the authenticator device to perform the authentication.

2. The file authentication requesting device of claim 1 , in which the at least one file to be authenticated was received by the requesting device as a file transfer from another device.

3. The file authentication requesting device of claim 1 , in which the authentication further comprises digitally signing the confirmation receipt.

4. The file authenticator requesting device of claim 1 , in which the unique digital characterization of file attributes comprises authentication by a postal authority.

5. A file authenticator device that stores a computer program for processing requests for third party authentication of files in digital systems, the device comprising:

a receiving device that receives attributes of at least one file to be authenticated and an identification of at least one of a requesting device and a user of the requesting device from the requesting device, the attributes generated by the requesting device processing the at least one file and the attributes comprising at least an electronic fingerprint of the at least one file;

a processing device that processes a confirmation receipt, the processing comprising a unique digital characterization of the file attributes generated, assuring at least in part tampering and modification detection; and

a sending device that creates a pending event for return of the confirmation receipt to the requesting device and sends the confirmation receipt comprising authenticated file attributes to the requesting device, after processing;

wherein, at least one file is authenticated by the authenticator device; and

whereby the receiving device need not receive the at least one file to perform the authentication.

6. The file authenticator device of claim 5 , in which the unique digital characterization further comprises digitally signing at least one of the file attributes and the confirmation receipt.

7. The file authenticator device of claim 5 , in which the confirmation receipt incorporates at least a date and a time of authentication, and an identification of at least the requesting device.

8. The file authenticator device of claim 5 , in which the unique digital characterization of file attributes comprises authentication by a postal authority.

9. A file authentication system comprising:

at least one file authentication requesting device processing at least one file to generate attributes and originating a request for a confirmation receipt from an authenticator device, and transferring the generated attributes of the at least one file to be authenticated and an identification of at least one of the requesting device and a user of the requesting device to the authenticator device;

a confirmation request processing device to process a confirmation receipt by the authenticator device, the processing comprising a unique digital characterization of the file attributes generated, assuring at least in part tampering and modification detection; and

a transferring device to transfer the confirmation receipt comprising authenticated file attributes, after processing by the authenticator device, the authentication comprising at least a unique digital characterization of the file attributes;

wherein, the authenticator device authenticates the attributes of the at least one file; and

whereby the authenticator device need not receive the at least one file to perform the authentication.

10. The file authentication system of claim 9 , in which the unique digital characterization further comprises digitally signing at least one of the file attributes and the confirmation receipt.

11. The file authentication system of claim 9 , in which the confirmation receipt incorporates at least a date and a time of authentication, and an identification of at least the requesting device.

12. The file authentication system of claim 9 , in which the unique digital characterization of file attributes comprises authentication by a postal authority.

13. A computer readable medium that stores a computer program for third party authentication of files in digital systems, the medium comprising:

a receiving source code segment with instructions for receiving attributes of at least one file to be authenticated and an identification of at least one of a requesting device and a user of the requesting device from the requesting device, the attributes generated by the requesting device processing at least one file and the attributes comprising at least an electronic fingerprint of the at least one file;

a processing source code segment with instructions for processing a confirmation receipt, the processing comprising a unique digital characterization of the file attributes generated, assuring at least in part tampering and modification detection; and

a sending source code segment with instructions for creating a pending event for return of the confirmation receipt to the requesting device and sending the confirmation receipt comprising at least authenticated file attributes to the requesting device, after processing;

wherein, at least one file is authenticated by the authentication processing device; and

whereby the receiving source code segment need not include instructions for receiving the at least one file to perform the authentication.

14. The medium of claim 13 , in which the unique digital characterization further comprises digitally signing at least one of the file attributes and the confirmation receipt.

15. The medium of claim 13 , in which the confirmation receipt incorporates at least a date and a time of authentication, and an identification of at least the requesting device.

16. The medium of claim 13 , in which the unique digital characterization of file attributes comprises authentication by a postal authority.

17. A computer readable medium that stores a computer program for requesting third party authentication of files in digital systems, the medium comprising:

a confirmation request source code segment with instructions for generating a request by a requesting device for a confirmation receipt from an authenticator device authenticating attributes of at least one file;

a transferring source code segment with instructions for transferring the generated attributes of the at least one file to be authenticated and an identification of at least one of the requesting device and a user of the requesting device to the authenticator device from the requesting device, the attributes comprising at least an electronic fingerprint of the at least one file; and

a receiving source code segment with instructions for receiving the confirmation receipt comprising at least authenticated file attributes after an authentication by the authenticator device, the authentication comprising at least a unique digital characterization of the attributes;

wherein, at least one file authentication is received from the authenticator device in response to the request; and

whereby the transferring source code segment need not transfer the at least one file to the authenticator device to perform the authentication.

18. The medium of claim 17 , in which the at least one file to be authenticated was received by the requesting device as a file transfer from another device.

19. The medium of claim 17 , in which the unique digital characterization further comprises digitally signing the confirmation receipt.

20. The medium of claim 17 , in which the unique digital characterization of file attributes comprises authentication by a postal authority.

21. A method for third party authentication of files in digital systems, the method comprising:

requesting at a requesting device a confirmation receipt from an authenticator device;

transferring attributes of at least one file to be authenticated and an identification of at least one of a requesting device and a user of the requesting device to the authenticator device by the requesting device, the attributes generated by the requesting device processing at least one file and the attributes comprising at least an electronic fingerprint of the at least one file;

processing the confirmation receipt by the authenticator device, the processing comprising a unique digital characterization of the file attributes generated, assuring at least in part tampering and modification detection;

creating at the authenticator device a pending event for return of the confirmation receipt to the requesting device;

sending the confirmation receipt comprising authenticated file attributes, after processing by the authenticator device, to the requesting device; and

receiving at the requesting device at least one file authentication from the authenticator device;

wherein the authenticator device authenticates the attributes of the at least one file as requested by the requesting device; and

whereby the authenticator device need not receive the at least one file to perform the authentication.

22. The method of claim 21 , in which the at least one file to be authenticated was received by the requesting device as a file transfer from another device.

23. The method of claim 21 , in which the unique digital characterization further comprises digitally signing the confirmation receipt.

24. The method of claim 21 , in which the confirmation receipt incorporates at least a date and a time of authentication, and an identification of at least the requesting device.

25. The method of claim 21 , in which the unique digital characterization of file attributes comprises authentication by a postal authority.