A Time Stamp Service Framework with Application on the Copy Right Protection of World Wide Web Documents

Abstract

Time stamp service is an important mechanism in the modern electronic information infrastructure. Time stamps in digital signatures, digital certificates, digital contracts, and digital documents provide proofs of the existence for that particular electronic information in that exact form and that particular time. In order to construct an efficient information infrastructure for electronic government, electronic business, and electronic commerce, a convenient time stamp service paradigm and environment is required. The overall time stamp service environment includes the time stamp server, various application softwares, and the network environment. In this paper, inter-operating mechanisms between the implemented time stamp authority and a specific Web Page Time Stamp application software are described. Two application paradigms of this time stamp service are implemented and discussed. The first application provides an trustworthy time information for each Web page. The second one employs time stamp service for the protection of copyright of publicized Web site materials.