WO2000057605A1 - Document transmission system - Google Patents

Document transmission system Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000057605A1
WO2000057605A1 PCT/CA2000/000292 CA0000292W WO0057605A1 WO 2000057605 A1 WO2000057605 A1 WO 2000057605A1 CA 0000292 W CA0000292 W CA 0000292W WO 0057605 A1 WO0057605 A1 WO 0057605A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
document
segment
code
predefined
segments
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CA2000/000292
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
William E. Wallace
Original Assignee
Rdm Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Rdm Corporation filed Critical Rdm Corporation
Priority to AU32683/00A priority Critical patent/AU3268300A/en
Publication of WO2000057605A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000057605A1/en

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
    • H04L63/04—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
    • H04L63/0428—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
    • H04L63/0442—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03M—CODING; DECODING; CODE CONVERSION IN GENERAL
    • H03M7/00—Conversion of a code where information is represented by a given sequence or number of digits to a code where the same, similar or subset of information is represented by a different sequence or number of digits
    • H03M7/30—Compression; Expansion; Suppression of unnecessary data, e.g. redundancy reduction
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
    • H04L51/21—Monitoring or handling of messages
    • H04L51/222—Monitoring or handling of messages using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
    • H04L63/12—Applying verification of the received information
    • H04L63/123—Applying verification of the received information received data contents, e.g. message integrity
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L69/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
    • H04L69/04—Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W12/00—Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
    • H04W12/03—Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
    • H04W12/033—Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W12/00—Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
    • H04W12/10—Integrity
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
    • H04L51/58—Message adaptation for wireless communication

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a system for data transmission.
  • the present invention relates to a method and system for the electronic transmission and reception of documents over a network.
  • wireless communications devices such as wireless telephones, pagers and personal data assistants
  • wireless communications devices have greatly facilitated electronic message communication between network subscribers.
  • wireless communications devices are low in computing power and memory resources. Consequently, documentation of the size and complexity available to Internet and land-based enterprise network subscribers are not available to wireless network subscribers.
  • wireless communication is not a particularly secure form of message communication.
  • this technology would not be suitable for document processing since the need for the wireless document reception device to encrypt and decrypt each wireless transmission would limit the ability of the device to transmit, receive, and display large complex documents.
  • the document transmission system for the transmission of a target document comprising at least one document segment.
  • the document transmission system comprises a code generator, a document segment archive, and a document processor in communication with the document segment archive.
  • the code generator is configured to provide a document segment code which is uniquely associated with each document segment of the document.
  • the document segment archive includes segment records associated with predefined document segments, with each document segment of the document having a corresponding predefined document segment in the document segment archive. Also, each segment record includes a code identifier uniquely associated with a respective one of the predefined document segments.
  • the document processor derives the target document from the segment codes provided from the code generator.
  • a method for transmission of a target document over a network comprising the steps of: maintaining a document segment archive including segment records associated with predefined document segments, each said segment record including a code identifier uniquely associated with a respective one of the predefined document segments; at a first network location defining a document including at least one document segment, the at least one document segment corresponding to one of the predefined document segments; providing at a second network location a segment code uniquely associated with the at least one document segment; and at the second network location deriving the document from the segment code and a corresponding one of the segment records.
  • a method for compressing a document which includes a plurality of document segments.
  • the document compression method comprises the steps of: providing a document segment archive comprising a plurality of predefined document segments; providing a user interface for defining a document with reference to selected ones of the predefined document segments; with the user interface choosing the selected predefined document segments; providing segment codes uniquely associated with respective ones of the selected predefined document segments; and retaining the segment codes in a storage medium, the selected predefined document segments associated with the retained segment codes when retained having conformity with the document.
  • an electronic document which comprises a compressed document portion, an uncompressed document portion, and means for retaining the compressed document portion in fixed relation with the uncompressed document portion.
  • the compressed document portion includes at least one hash code uniquely, with each hash code being associated with a document segment disposed external to the compressed document portion.
  • the uncompressed document portion includes text and/or graphics. The compressed document portion and the uncompressed document portion when so fixed are oriented such that the uncompressed document portion and the document segment associated with the hash codes together define a coherent document.
  • a message transmission system comprising a document processor, a document segment archive, and a code generator in communication with the document processor and the document segment archive.
  • the document processor is provided to define a message, for transmission, which includes at least one message segment.
  • the document segment archive includes segment records associated with predefined document segments, with one of the predefined document segments corresponding to the at least one message segment. Also, each segment record includes a code identifier uniquely associated with a respective one of the predefined document segments.
  • the code generator provides the code identifier associated with the predefined document segment corresponding to the at least one document segment.
  • a document storage system comprising a storage medium, a document archive and a plurality of electronic documents stored in the storage medium, and document selecting means for selecting one of the electronic documents.
  • the document archive includes a plurality of document segments.
  • Each electronic document comprises at least one data structure, with each data structure including a segment code uniquely associated with one of the document segments.
  • the document server also includes deriving means for deriving the selected electronic document in accordance with the respective data structures and the associated data document segments.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a document transmission system, according to the present invention, showing the code generator for originating the document, the document segment archive, the document processor; and the document recipient;
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the code generator depicted in Fig. 1, showing the code processor and the code transmitter;
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the document processor and the document segment archive depicted in Fig. 1 , showing the segment code receiver and the document server;
  • Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a uncompressed document, and a document compressed according to the document transmission system
  • Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a document transmission system, according to the present invention, for transmitting compressed messages directly between network users;
  • Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a document storage system, according to the present invention, for storing the compressed documents depicted in Fig. 4.
  • a document transmission system denoted generally as 100, comprising a code generator 102, a document processor 104, a document recipient 106, and a document segment archive 108.
  • the document transmission system 100 also includes a primary network 110 interconnecting the code generator 102, the document processor 104, and the document recipient 106; and a secondary network 112 interconnecting the document processor 104 and the document segment archive 108.
  • the primary network 110 comprises a wireless network
  • the secondary network 112 comprises a land-based network, such as the Internet or enterprise network.
  • the present invention is not limited to the network configurations shown in Fig. 1.
  • the primary network 110 and the secondary network 112 may be combined into a single network.
  • the document recipient 106 may communicate with the document processor 104 over the secondary network 112.
  • Other network configurations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.
  • the code generator 102 is configured to provide document segment codes which are each uniquely associated with a desired document segment.
  • the code generator 102 comprises a portable electronic communications device, such as a portable data assistant, or wireless telephone.
  • the code generator 102 comprises a user interface 114 for creating a desired document (comprising a plurality of document segments), a code processor 116 in communication with the user interface 114 for deriving segment codes for the document segments, and a document transmitter 118 in communication with the code processor 114 for transmitting over the primary network 110 a compressed document which includes the segment codes.
  • the user interface 114 comprises a data entry device 120, such as a keypad, a voice-recognition port, or a handwriting recognition device; and a display device 122 for viewing the desired document and the results of commands entered through the data entry device 120.
  • the code processor 116 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 124, and a programmable read-only memory (PROM) 126 and a read/write memory (RAM) 128 both in communication with the CPU 124.
  • the PROM 126 includes processor instructions for the CPU 124.
  • the processor instructions establish in the RAM 128 a memory object defining a document processor 130, a memory object defining a hash code processor 132 in communication with the document processor 130, and a memory object defining an encryption processor 134 in communication with the hash code processor 132.
  • the document processor 130, the hash code processor 132, and the encryption processor 134 need not be implemented as memory objects, but instead may be implemented in electronic hardware, if desired.
  • the PROM 126 also includes a table 136 comprising a series of table entries, each comprising a hash code entry 138.
  • each table entry also specifies a network address entry 140 uniquely associated with each hash code entry 138.
  • each hash code entry 138 is associated with a predefined document segment which is available over the secondary network 112, and each associated network address entry 140 is used by the document processor 104 to construct the desired document.
  • the document processor 104 is configured to derive the desired document from the compressed document provided from the code generator 102. As shown in Fig. 3, the document processor 104 comprises a document receiver 142 for receiving compressed documents from the code generator 102, a document server 144 in communication with the document receiver 142 for decompressing the received compressed documents, and a document transmitter 146 in communication with the document server 144 for transmitting the decompressed documents over the secondary network 112 to the intended document recipient 106.
  • the document server 144 is also in communication with the document segment archive 108 to assist in deriving the desired document from the compressed document.
  • the document server 144 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 148 in communication with the document receiver 142, and a read-only memory (ROM) 150 and a R/W memory (RAM) 152 both in communication with the CPU 148.
  • the ROM 150 includes processor instructions for the CPU 148.
  • the processor instructions establish in the RAM 152 a memory object defining a decryption processor 154 for decrypting the received compressed documents, a memory object defining a hash code processor 156 in communication with the decryption processor 154 for verifying the integrity of the compressed documents, and a memory object defining a document postprocessor 158 in communication with the hash code processor 156 for assembling the desired document from its corresponding document segment codes.
  • the ROM 150 also includes a table 160 comprising a series of table entries, each comprising an unencrypted hash code entry 162 and a network address 164 uniquely associated with each unencrypted hash code entry 162.
  • the hash code entries 162 may comprise public key encrypted hash code entries if all the transmitting users of the document transmission system are provided with the public encryption key.
  • the document segment archive 108 comprises an electronic database including a series of entries, each comprising a predefined document segment 166, and a network address 168 associated with each predefined document segment 166.
  • the electronic database itself has a single network address within the secondary network 112.
  • the predefined document segments may instead by spread over a plurality of electronic databases, with each database having its own network address within the secondary network 112.
  • each predefined document segment 166 comprises a text document segment, a graphics document segment, and audio document segment, or a document segment comprising a combination of text, graphics and/or audio.
  • the user of the code generator 102 creates a document 200 for transmission over the primary network 110, typically comprising a plurality of document segments, such as the graphic document segment 202 and the text document segments 204a, 204b, 206c shown schematically in the left half of Fig. 4.
  • the document segment processor 130 generates suitable document segment positional code for each document segment 202, 204, such as with a Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML)-based language, to define the relative orientation of the document segments 202, 204 within the document 200.
  • SGML Standard Generalized Markup Language
  • the document processor 130 transmits the document segments 202, 204 to the hash code processor 132.
  • the hash code processor 132 then derives a hash code for each of the document segments, with each hash code being uniquely associated with a respective one of the document segments.
  • the invention is not limited to the use of hash codes, and that other code formats may be utilized instead of hash codes.
  • the CPU 124 interrogates the hash code entries 138 with the hash codes generated from the hash code processor 132 to determine whether each associated document segment is available over the network 112. If a PROM table entry is located, and the PROM table 136 also includes network address entries 140, the CPU 124 retrieves the network address 140 associated with the hash code entry 138 which corresponds to the hash code from the hash code processor 132. The retrieved network address 140 comprises a document segment code which the CPU 124 preferably then joins with the corresponding document segment positional code data to form a compressed segment data structure.
  • the hash code entry from the PROM table 136 comprises the document segment code, which the CPU 124 then preferably joins with the corresponding document segment positional code data to form the compressed segment data structure.
  • the document segment is not available over the network 110, and the CPU 124 joins the document segment with the corresponding document segment positional code data to form a uncompressed segment data structure.
  • the compressed and uncompressed segment data structures comprise a compressed document which is ultimately transmitted over the primary network 110.
  • the segment data structure is then encrypted by the encryption processor 134.
  • the encryption processor 134 encrypts each segment data structure with the private encryption key associated with the user of the code generator 102.
  • encryption with a private encryption key allows the recipient of the compressed document to verify that the transmitted document originated from the code generator user, if the recipient is provided with the public encryption key corresponding to the private encryption key associated with the user of the code generator 102.
  • the encryption processor 134 is not an essential element of the invention, and may be eliminated if desired.
  • the resulting compressed document 200' is shown schematically in the right half of Fig. 4, which depicts the compressed document segment data structures 202', 204a', 204b', respectively corresponding to the document segments 202, 204a, 204b, and the uncompressed data structure 204c.
  • the encryption processor 134 does not encrypt each segment data structure
  • the hash code processor 132 hashes the segment data structures 202', 204' and any uncompressed document segments 202, 204.
  • the encryption processor 134 then encrypts the resulting hash with the private key of the user of the code generator 102 so as to provide a digital signature 206 which the CPU 124 then appends to the compressed document 200'.
  • the digital signature 206 is used by the document processor 104 to ensure that the compressed document 200' was not altered during transmission over the primary network 110.
  • provision of a digital signature 206 is not essential to the invention, and may be eliminated even if none of the segment codes are encrypted.
  • the encryption processor 134 encrypts the appended compressed document with the public key of the document processor 104 so that the document can only be read by the document processor 104.
  • the encrypted appended compressed document is then passed to the document transmitter 118 for transmission to the document processor 104 over the primary network 110.
  • the decryption processor 154 decrypts the document with the private key of the document processor 104. If the compressed document 200' is appended with the digital signature 206, the decryption processor 154 then decrypts the digital signature 206 with the public key of the transmitting user.
  • the decryption processor 154 may obtain the public key of the transmitting user through any suitable means, including via a digital certificate provided from a trusted certificate authority.
  • the decryption processor 154 passes the resulting compressed document 200' to the hash code processor 156 and the decrypted digital signature 206 to the document postprocessor 158.
  • the hash code processor 156 derives the hash code for the compressed document 200', and passes the derived hash code to the document postprocessor 158.
  • the document postprocessor 158 compares the hash code derived by the hash code processor 156 with the hash code derived from the digital signature 206 to ensure that the compressed document 200' was not altered during transmission over the primary network 110. If the document postprocessor 158 is unable to verify the integrity of the compressed document 200', the document postprocessor 158 does not attempt to decompress the received document, as described below.
  • the document postprocessor 158 extracts the segment data structures 202', 204' from the compressed document 200'. If the extracted segment data structures 202', 204' were encrypted with the transmitting user's private encryption key, the document postprocessor 158 passes each segment data structures 202', 204' to the decryption processor 154 for decryption. The document postprocessor 158 then extracts the segment codes from the compressed data structures 202', 204'.
  • the document postprocessor 158 queries the hash code entries 162 of the table 160 of the ROM 150 with the hash codes from the segment data structures 202', 204' for the network address 164 of each corresponding document segment. Alternately, the document postprocessor 158 obtains the network address 164 of each document segment directly from the segment data structures 202', 204', if the segment data structures 202', 204' specify the network address of each document segment.
  • the document postprocessor 158 queries the document segment archive 108 with the obtained network addresses to retrieve the desired document segments, and then assembles the desired document with the document segment positional code data for each document segment, including any uncompressed document segments.
  • the assembled document is then transmitted via the document transmitter 146 to the document recipient 106 over the primary network 110.
  • the document transmission system 100 is used for electronic funds transfer, with the compressed document 200' comprising an electronic cheque.
  • the bank of the payor (issuer) of the cheque comprises the document processor 104.
  • the payor generates a cheque with the code generator 102, specifying the name of the payee, the name of the payor's bank, the date, and the amount of funds to be paid.
  • the user also includes as part of the cheque the user's bank account number, which becomes compressed and encrypted, as discussed above. Preferably, all of these items are encrypted with the payor's private encryption key to preclude tampering.
  • the user transmits the compressed electronic cheque directly to the intended recipient 106 over the primary network 110, preferably after encrypting the cheque with the public encryption key of the intended recipient 106.
  • the recipient 106 Upon receipt of the cheque, the recipient 106 decrypts the cheque with its private encryption key, and then electronically endorses the cheque. Preferably, the recipient 106 encrypts the endorsed cheque with the public encryption key of the recipient's bank, and then transmits the endorsed cheque to the recipient's bank. The recipient's bank then transmits the cheque to the payor's bank for settlement.
  • the payor's bank Upon receipt of the endorsed cheque from the recipient's bank, the payor's bank queries its ROM table 160 with the compressed account number for an entry identifying the issuer's bank account number. The payor's bank then effects settlement of the cheque with the recipient's bank.
  • the invention is used for transmitting messages between portable electronic devices, preferably over a primary wireless network 110.
  • each user is provided with the document transmission system 300, shown in Fig. 5.
  • the document transmission system 300 is similar to the code generator 102 and the document processor 104, in that it comprises the user interface 114, the document transmitter 118, and the document receiver 142.
  • the document transmission system 300 also includes a code segment processor 316 which comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 324, and a programmable read-only memory (PROM) 326 and a read/write memory (RAM) 328 both in communication with the CPU 324.
  • a code segment processor 316 which comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 324, and a programmable read-only memory (PROM) 326 and a read/write memory (RAM) 328 both in communication with the CPU 324.
  • CPU central processing unit
  • PROM programmable read-only memory
  • RAM read/write memory
  • the PROM 326 includes processor instructions for the CPU 324.
  • the processor instructions establish in the RAM 328 a memory object defining a document processor 330, a memory object defining an encryption processor 334, a memory object defining a decryption processor 354, a memory object defining a document postprocessor 358, and a memory object defining a hash code processor 332 in communication with the document processor 330, the encryption processor 334, the decryption processor 354, and the document postprocessor 358.
  • the PROM 326 also includes a table 336 comprising a series of table entries, each comprising a hash code entry 338, and a predefined document segment 366 uniquely associated with each hash code entry 338.
  • the operation of the document transmission system 300 is similar to the operation of the document transmission system 100.
  • the user creates a document 200 for transmission over the primary network 110, typically comprising a plurality of document segments 202, 204.
  • the document processor 330 then transmits the document segments 202, 204 to the hash code processor 332 which derives a unique document segment code (hash code) for each document segments 202, 204.
  • the CPU 324 interrogates the hash code entries 338 in the PROM table 336 with the segment codes generated from the hash code processor 332 to determine whether each associated document segment is already defined.
  • the CPU 324 joins the segment code with the corresponding document segment positional code data into a compressed segment data structure. If no PROM table entry is located, the CPU 324 joins the uncompressed document segment with the document segment positional code data into an uncompressed segment data structure. As discussed above, the compressed and uncompressed segment data structures 202', 204' comprise the compressed document 200'.
  • segment data structures 202, 204 are then individually encrypted by the encryption processor 334 with the private encryption key associated with the user of the document transmission system 300.
  • the CPU 324 may append a digital signature 206 (created from the hash code processor 332 and the encryption processor 334) to the compressed document 200', as described above.
  • the encryption processor 334 is not an essential element of the invention, and may be eliminated if desired.
  • the encryption processor 334 encrypts the appended compressed document with the public key of the target user so that the document can only be read by the target user.
  • the encrypted appended compressed document is then retained in the RAM 328 until transmitted to the target user via the document transmitter 318.
  • the encrypted appended compressed document is received by the document receiver 142, and then decrypted by the decryption processor 354 with the private key of the target user. If the compressed document 200' is appended with the digital signature 206, the decryption processor 354 and the hash code processor 332 are used to verify that the compressed document 200' was not altered during transmission over the primary network 110. If the compressed document 200' does not have an appended digital signature 206, or if the document postprocessor 358 is able to verify the integrity of the compressed document 200', the document postprocessor 358 extracts the segment data structures 202', 204' from the compressed document 200'.
  • segment data structures 202', 204' were encrypted with the transmitting user's private encryption key
  • the segment data structures 202', 204' are decrypted with the decryption processor 354.
  • the document postprocessor 358 then extracts the segment codes from the compressed segment data structures 202', 204'.
  • the document postprocessor 358 then queries the hash code entries 338 of the table 336 of the PROM 326 with the segment codes extracted from the segment data structures 202', 204' for the desired document segments, and then assembles the desired document with the document segment positional code data for each document segment, together with any uncompressed document segments. The assembled document is then transmitted to the user interface 114 of the recipient.
  • FIG. 6 Another application of the invention is shown in Fig. 6.
  • a document storage system 400 which is used for storing compressed documents and for retrieving and decompressing the compressed documents upon command.
  • the document storage system 400 is provided at a node within a network 310, with then network 310 including user terminals and peripheral devices.
  • the document storage system 400 comprises the user interface 114, the document transmitter 118, a central processing unit (CPU) 424 in communication with the user interface 114 and the document transmitter 118, and a non- volatile storage 470 and a read/write memory (RAM) 428 both in communication with the CPU 324.
  • CPU central processing unit
  • RAM read/write memory
  • the non-volatile storage 470 comprises a magnetic disc storage device, and includes a document segment archive 408 and a compressed document archive 472 stored on the non-volatile storage 470.
  • the document segment archive 408 comprises a table including a series of table entries, each comprising a hash code entry 438, and a predefined document segment 466 uniquely associated with each hash code entry 438.
  • the compressed document archive 472 comprises a plurality of compressed electronic documents 200'.
  • each compressed electronic document 200' comprises at least one compressed document segment data structure, and may also comprise an uncompressed data structure.
  • Each compressed document segment data structure includes positional code data, and a segment code uniquely associated with one of the predefined document segments 466.
  • the RAM 428 includes a memory object defining document selecting means 474 for selecting one of the compressed documents 200', and a memory object defining deriving means 476 in communication with the document selecting means 474 for decompressing and deriving the selected document in accordance with the segment codes and positional code data defined in the compressed document 200' and in accordance with the data document segments associated with the segment codes.
  • a user selects a document from the document storage system 400 via the user interface 114 and the selecting means 474, and specifies the network address of the intended recipient user or peripheral device.
  • the selecting means 474 retrieves the compressed document segment data structures and any uncompressed document segment data structures from the compressed document archive 472.
  • the deriving means 476 then decompresses the selected compressed document 200' by extracting the segment codes from the compressed document segment data structure, and then derives the selected document as described above.
  • the document transmitter 118 then transmits the document to the intended recipient user or peripheral device.

Abstract

A document transmission system is disclosed for transmission over a network of a document including at least one document segment. The document transmission system consists of a code generator, a document segment archive, and a document processor in communication with the document segment archive. The code generator is provided at one network location, and is configured to provide a document segment code which is uniquely associated with each document segment of the document. The document segment archive includes segment records associated with predefined document segments, with each document segment of the document having a corresponding predefined document segment in the document segment archive. Also, each segment record includes a code identifier uniquely associated with a respective one of the predefined document segments. The document processor is provided at a second network location. After the document is defined, the code generator transmits the segment codes associated with the document over the network to the document processor. The document processor then derives the document from the segment codes provided by the code generator.

Description

DOCUMENT TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a system for data transmission. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and system for the electronic transmission and reception of documents over a network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The widespread reach and appeal of the Internet and land-based enterprise networks is continually exposing network subscribers to an increasing volume and variety of information. As land-based network communication hardware technology, such as personal computers, servers and switching systems, has become more powerful, the size and complexity of the documentation available to network subscribers has similarly increased.
At the same time, the advent of wireless communications devices, such as wireless telephones, pagers and personal data assistants, has greatly facilitated electronic message communication between network subscribers. However, as the purpose of these devices has traditionally been to foster portable communications, wireless communications devices presently available are low in computing power and memory resources. Consequently, documentation of the size and complexity available to Internet and land-based enterprise network subscribers are not available to wireless network subscribers.
Also, wireless communication is not a particularly secure form of message communication. With the appropriate wireless communication hardware, it is possible for unscrupulous individuals to intercept message information transmitted over the wireless network, and to transmit message information to an intended recipient without the wireless recipient being aware that the transmitted information is erroneous. Attempts have been made at rendering wireless message communication more secure. For instance, it is known to provide an encryption key for wireless telephones to ensure that the voice communications transmitted over the wireless network are not intercepted by third parties. However, this technology would not be suitable for document processing since the need for the wireless document reception device to encrypt and decrypt each wireless transmission would limit the ability of the device to transmit, receive, and display large complex documents.
Therefore, there remains a need for an electronic document transmission system which increases the size and complexity of the documentation available to wireless network subscribers. Further, there remains a need for an electronic document transmission system which facilitates secure document transmission over the wireless network.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a document transmission system which addresses deficiencies of the prior art.
The document transmission system, according to the present invention, is provided for the transmission of a target document comprising at least one document segment. The document transmission system comprises a code generator, a document segment archive, and a document processor in communication with the document segment archive. The code generator is configured to provide a document segment code which is uniquely associated with each document segment of the document. The document segment archive includes segment records associated with predefined document segments, with each document segment of the document having a corresponding predefined document segment in the document segment archive. Also, each segment record includes a code identifier uniquely associated with a respective one of the predefined document segments. The document processor derives the target document from the segment codes provided from the code generator. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for transmission of a target document over a network, comprising the steps of: maintaining a document segment archive including segment records associated with predefined document segments, each said segment record including a code identifier uniquely associated with a respective one of the predefined document segments; at a first network location defining a document including at least one document segment, the at least one document segment corresponding to one of the predefined document segments; providing at a second network location a segment code uniquely associated with the at least one document segment; and at the second network location deriving the document from the segment code and a corresponding one of the segment records.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for compressing a document which includes a plurality of document segments. The document compression method comprises the steps of: providing a document segment archive comprising a plurality of predefined document segments; providing a user interface for defining a document with reference to selected ones of the predefined document segments; with the user interface choosing the selected predefined document segments; providing segment codes uniquely associated with respective ones of the selected predefined document segments; and retaining the segment codes in a storage medium, the selected predefined document segments associated with the retained segment codes when retained having conformity with the document.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic document which comprises a compressed document portion, an uncompressed document portion, and means for retaining the compressed document portion in fixed relation with the uncompressed document portion. The compressed document portion includes at least one hash code uniquely, with each hash code being associated with a document segment disposed external to the compressed document portion. The uncompressed document portion includes text and/or graphics. The compressed document portion and the uncompressed document portion when so fixed are oriented such that the uncompressed document portion and the document segment associated with the hash codes together define a coherent document.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a message transmission system comprising a document processor, a document segment archive, and a code generator in communication with the document processor and the document segment archive. The document processor is provided to define a message, for transmission, which includes at least one message segment. The document segment archive includes segment records associated with predefined document segments, with one of the predefined document segments corresponding to the at least one message segment. Also, each segment record includes a code identifier uniquely associated with a respective one of the predefined document segments. The code generator provides the code identifier associated with the predefined document segment corresponding to the at least one document segment.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a document storage system comprising a storage medium, a document archive and a plurality of electronic documents stored in the storage medium, and document selecting means for selecting one of the electronic documents. The document archive includes a plurality of document segments. Each electronic document comprises at least one data structure, with each data structure including a segment code uniquely associated with one of the document segments. The document server also includes deriving means for deriving the selected electronic document in accordance with the respective data structures and the associated data document segments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a document transmission system, according to the present invention, showing the code generator for originating the document, the document segment archive, the document processor; and the document recipient;
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the code generator depicted in Fig. 1, showing the code processor and the code transmitter;
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the document processor and the document segment archive depicted in Fig. 1 , showing the segment code receiver and the document server;
Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a uncompressed document, and a document compressed according to the document transmission system;
Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a document transmission system, according to the present invention, for transmitting compressed messages directly between network users; and
Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a document storage system, according to the present invention, for storing the compressed documents depicted in Fig. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning to Fig. 1, a document transmission system, denoted generally as 100, is shown comprising a code generator 102, a document processor 104, a document recipient 106, and a document segment archive 108. The document transmission system 100 also includes a primary network 110 interconnecting the code generator 102, the document processor 104, and the document recipient 106; and a secondary network 112 interconnecting the document processor 104 and the document segment archive 108. Preferably, the primary network 110 comprises a wireless network, and the secondary network 112 comprises a land-based network, such as the Internet or enterprise network. However, the present invention is not limited to the network configurations shown in Fig. 1. For instance, the primary network 110 and the secondary network 112 may be combined into a single network. Alternately, the document recipient 106 may communicate with the document processor 104 over the secondary network 112. Other network configurations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.
The code generator 102 is configured to provide document segment codes which are each uniquely associated with a desired document segment. Typically, the code generator 102 comprises a portable electronic communications device, such as a portable data assistant, or wireless telephone. As shown in Fig. 2, the code generator 102 comprises a user interface 114 for creating a desired document (comprising a plurality of document segments), a code processor 116 in communication with the user interface 114 for deriving segment codes for the document segments, and a document transmitter 118 in communication with the code processor 114 for transmitting over the primary network 110 a compressed document which includes the segment codes. The user interface 114 comprises a data entry device 120, such as a keypad, a voice-recognition port, or a handwriting recognition device; and a display device 122 for viewing the desired document and the results of commands entered through the data entry device 120.
The code processor 116 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 124, and a programmable read-only memory (PROM) 126 and a read/write memory (RAM) 128 both in communication with the CPU 124. The PROM 126 includes processor instructions for the CPU 124. The processor instructions establish in the RAM 128 a memory object defining a document processor 130, a memory object defining a hash code processor 132 in communication with the document processor 130, and a memory object defining an encryption processor 134 in communication with the hash code processor 132. However, it will be appreciated that the document processor 130, the hash code processor 132, and the encryption processor 134 need not be implemented as memory objects, but instead may be implemented in electronic hardware, if desired.
Preferably, the PROM 126 also includes a table 136 comprising a series of table entries, each comprising a hash code entry 138. Optionally, each table entry also specifies a network address entry 140 uniquely associated with each hash code entry 138. As will be discussed below, each hash code entry 138 is associated with a predefined document segment which is available over the secondary network 112, and each associated network address entry 140 is used by the document processor 104 to construct the desired document.
The document processor 104 is configured to derive the desired document from the compressed document provided from the code generator 102. As shown in Fig. 3, the document processor 104 comprises a document receiver 142 for receiving compressed documents from the code generator 102, a document server 144 in communication with the document receiver 142 for decompressing the received compressed documents, and a document transmitter 146 in communication with the document server 144 for transmitting the decompressed documents over the secondary network 112 to the intended document recipient 106. The document server 144 is also in communication with the document segment archive 108 to assist in deriving the desired document from the compressed document.
The document server 144 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 148 in communication with the document receiver 142, and a read-only memory (ROM) 150 and a R/W memory (RAM) 152 both in communication with the CPU 148. The ROM 150 includes processor instructions for the CPU 148. The processor instructions establish in the RAM 152 a memory object defining a decryption processor 154 for decrypting the received compressed documents, a memory object defining a hash code processor 156 in communication with the decryption processor 154 for verifying the integrity of the compressed documents, and a memory object defining a document postprocessor 158 in communication with the hash code processor 156 for assembling the desired document from its corresponding document segment codes. Also, if the PROM 126 does not include the table 136, described above, preferably the ROM 150 also includes a table 160 comprising a series of table entries, each comprising an unencrypted hash code entry 162 and a network address 164 uniquely associated with each unencrypted hash code entry 162. Alternately, the hash code entries 162 may comprise public key encrypted hash code entries if all the transmitting users of the document transmission system are provided with the public encryption key.
The document segment archive 108 comprises an electronic database including a series of entries, each comprising a predefined document segment 166, and a network address 168 associated with each predefined document segment 166. Preferably, the electronic database itself has a single network address within the secondary network 112. However, the predefined document segments may instead by spread over a plurality of electronic databases, with each database having its own network address within the secondary network 112. Further, preferably each predefined document segment 166 comprises a text document segment, a graphics document segment, and audio document segment, or a document segment comprising a combination of text, graphics and/or audio.
Through the user interface 114 and the document segment processor 130, the user of the code generator 102 creates a document 200 for transmission over the primary network 110, typically comprising a plurality of document segments, such as the graphic document segment 202 and the text document segments 204a, 204b, 206c shown schematically in the left half of Fig. 4. Preferably, the document segment processor 130 generates suitable document segment positional code for each document segment 202, 204, such as with a Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML)-based language, to define the relative orientation of the document segments 202, 204 within the document 200.
After the document 200 is defined, the document processor 130 transmits the document segments 202, 204 to the hash code processor 132. The hash code processor 132 then derives a hash code for each of the document segments, with each hash code being uniquely associated with a respective one of the document segments. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of hash codes, and that other code formats may be utilized instead of hash codes.
If the PROM 126 includes the PROM table 136, the CPU 124 interrogates the hash code entries 138 with the hash codes generated from the hash code processor 132 to determine whether each associated document segment is available over the network 112. If a PROM table entry is located, and the PROM table 136 also includes network address entries 140, the CPU 124 retrieves the network address 140 associated with the hash code entry 138 which corresponds to the hash code from the hash code processor 132. The retrieved network address 140 comprises a document segment code which the CPU 124 preferably then joins with the corresponding document segment positional code data to form a compressed segment data structure. Alternately, if the PROM table 136 does not include any network address entries 140, the hash code entry from the PROM table 136 comprises the document segment code, which the CPU 124 then preferably joins with the corresponding document segment positional code data to form the compressed segment data structure.
If no PROM table entry is located, the document segment is not available over the network 110, and the CPU 124 joins the document segment with the corresponding document segment positional code data to form a uncompressed segment data structure. The compressed and uncompressed segment data structures comprise a compressed document which is ultimately transmitted over the primary network 110.
After each segment data structure is created, preferably the segment data structure is then encrypted by the encryption processor 134. Preferably the encryption processor 134 encrypts each segment data structure with the private encryption key associated with the user of the code generator 102. As will be apparent, encryption with a private encryption key allows the recipient of the compressed document to verify that the transmitted document originated from the code generator user, if the recipient is provided with the public encryption key corresponding to the private encryption key associated with the user of the code generator 102. However, it should be appreciated that the encryption processor 134 is not an essential element of the invention, and may be eliminated if desired.
The resulting compressed document 200' is shown schematically in the right half of Fig. 4, which depicts the compressed document segment data structures 202', 204a', 204b', respectively corresponding to the document segments 202, 204a, 204b, and the uncompressed data structure 204c.
If the document transmission system 100 is configured such that the encryption processor 134 does not encrypt each segment data structure, preferably the hash code processor 132 hashes the segment data structures 202', 204' and any uncompressed document segments 202, 204. The encryption processor 134 then encrypts the resulting hash with the private key of the user of the code generator 102 so as to provide a digital signature 206 which the CPU 124 then appends to the compressed document 200'. As will be apparent, the digital signature 206 is used by the document processor 104 to ensure that the compressed document 200' was not altered during transmission over the primary network 110. However, it will be appreciated that provision of a digital signature 206 is not essential to the invention, and may be eliminated even if none of the segment codes are encrypted.
After the appended compressed document is completed, preferably the encryption processor 134 encrypts the appended compressed document with the public key of the document processor 104 so that the document can only be read by the document processor 104. The encrypted appended compressed document is then passed to the document transmitter 118 for transmission to the document processor 104 over the primary network 110.
After the encrypted appended compressed document is received by the document receiver 142, the decryption processor 154 decrypts the document with the private key of the document processor 104. If the compressed document 200' is appended with the digital signature 206, the decryption processor 154 then decrypts the digital signature 206 with the public key of the transmitting user. The decryption processor 154 may obtain the public key of the transmitting user through any suitable means, including via a digital certificate provided from a trusted certificate authority.
If the compressed document 200' is appended with the digital signature 206, the decryption processor 154 then passes the resulting compressed document 200' to the hash code processor 156 and the decrypted digital signature 206 to the document postprocessor 158. The hash code processor 156 derives the hash code for the compressed document 200', and passes the derived hash code to the document postprocessor 158. The document postprocessor 158 compares the hash code derived by the hash code processor 156 with the hash code derived from the digital signature 206 to ensure that the compressed document 200' was not altered during transmission over the primary network 110. If the document postprocessor 158 is unable to verify the integrity of the compressed document 200', the document postprocessor 158 does not attempt to decompress the received document, as described below.
If the compressed document 200' does not have an appended digital signature 206, or if the document postprocessor 158 is able to verify the integrity of the compressed document 200', the document postprocessor 158 extracts the segment data structures 202', 204' from the compressed document 200'. If the extracted segment data structures 202', 204' were encrypted with the transmitting user's private encryption key, the document postprocessor 158 passes each segment data structures 202', 204' to the decryption processor 154 for decryption. The document postprocessor 158 then extracts the segment codes from the compressed data structures 202', 204'.
If the document transmission system 100 is configured such that the segment data structures 202', 204' include the hash code of each compressed document segment, but do not specify the network address of each compressed document segment, the document postprocessor 158 then queries the hash code entries 162 of the table 160 of the ROM 150 with the hash codes from the segment data structures 202', 204' for the network address 164 of each corresponding document segment. Alternately, the document postprocessor 158 obtains the network address 164 of each document segment directly from the segment data structures 202', 204', if the segment data structures 202', 204' specify the network address of each document segment.
The document postprocessor 158 then queries the document segment archive 108 with the obtained network addresses to retrieve the desired document segments, and then assembles the desired document with the document segment positional code data for each document segment, including any uncompressed document segments. The assembled document is then transmitted via the document transmitter 146 to the document recipient 106 over the primary network 110.
Numerous applications of the foregoing embodiment are envisaged. For instance, in one application, the document transmission system 100 is used for electronic funds transfer, with the compressed document 200' comprising an electronic cheque. In this application, the bank of the payor (issuer) of the cheque comprises the document processor 104. The payor generates a cheque with the code generator 102, specifying the name of the payee, the name of the payor's bank, the date, and the amount of funds to be paid. The user also includes as part of the cheque the user's bank account number, which becomes compressed and encrypted, as discussed above. Preferably, all of these items are encrypted with the payor's private encryption key to preclude tampering. The user then transmits the compressed electronic cheque directly to the intended recipient 106 over the primary network 110, preferably after encrypting the cheque with the public encryption key of the intended recipient 106.
Upon receipt of the cheque, the recipient 106 decrypts the cheque with its private encryption key, and then electronically endorses the cheque. Preferably, the recipient 106 encrypts the endorsed cheque with the public encryption key of the recipient's bank, and then transmits the endorsed cheque to the recipient's bank. The recipient's bank then transmits the cheque to the payor's bank for settlement. Upon receipt of the endorsed cheque from the recipient's bank, the payor's bank queries its ROM table 160 with the compressed account number for an entry identifying the issuer's bank account number. The payor's bank then effects settlement of the cheque with the recipient's bank. In another application, the invention is used for transmitting messages between portable electronic devices, preferably over a primary wireless network 110. In this application, each user is provided with the document transmission system 300, shown in Fig. 5. The document transmission system 300, is similar to the code generator 102 and the document processor 104, in that it comprises the user interface 114, the document transmitter 118, and the document receiver 142. However, in addition, the document transmission system 300 also includes a code segment processor 316 which comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 324, and a programmable read-only memory (PROM) 326 and a read/write memory (RAM) 328 both in communication with the CPU 324.
The PROM 326 includes processor instructions for the CPU 324. The processor instructions establish in the RAM 328 a memory object defining a document processor 330, a memory object defining an encryption processor 334, a memory object defining a decryption processor 354, a memory object defining a document postprocessor 358, and a memory object defining a hash code processor 332 in communication with the document processor 330, the encryption processor 334, the decryption processor 354, and the document postprocessor 358. It will be appreciated that any of the foregoing memory objects 330, 332, 334, 354, 358 may be implemented in electronic hardware instead, if desired. The PROM 326 also includes a table 336 comprising a series of table entries, each comprising a hash code entry 338, and a predefined document segment 366 uniquely associated with each hash code entry 338.
The operation of the document transmission system 300 is similar to the operation of the document transmission system 100. Through the user interface 314 and the document segment processor 330, the user creates a document 200 for transmission over the primary network 110, typically comprising a plurality of document segments 202, 204. The document processor 330 then transmits the document segments 202, 204 to the hash code processor 332 which derives a unique document segment code (hash code) for each document segments 202, 204. The CPU 324 interrogates the hash code entries 338 in the PROM table 336 with the segment codes generated from the hash code processor 332 to determine whether each associated document segment is already defined. If a PROM table entry is located, the CPU 324 joins the segment code with the corresponding document segment positional code data into a compressed segment data structure. If no PROM table entry is located, the CPU 324 joins the uncompressed document segment with the document segment positional code data into an uncompressed segment data structure. As discussed above, the compressed and uncompressed segment data structures 202', 204' comprise the compressed document 200'.
After each segment data structure 202, 204 is created, preferably the segment data structures are then individually encrypted by the encryption processor 334 with the private encryption key associated with the user of the document transmission system 300. Alternately, or additionally, the CPU 324 may append a digital signature 206 (created from the hash code processor 332 and the encryption processor 334) to the compressed document 200', as described above. As will be apparent, the encryption processor 334 is not an essential element of the invention, and may be eliminated if desired.
After the appended compressed document is completed, preferably the encryption processor 334 encrypts the appended compressed document with the public key of the target user so that the document can only be read by the target user. The encrypted appended compressed document is then retained in the RAM 328 until transmitted to the target user via the document transmitter 318.
The encrypted appended compressed document is received by the document receiver 142, and then decrypted by the decryption processor 354 with the private key of the target user. If the compressed document 200' is appended with the digital signature 206, the decryption processor 354 and the hash code processor 332 are used to verify that the compressed document 200' was not altered during transmission over the primary network 110. If the compressed document 200' does not have an appended digital signature 206, or if the document postprocessor 358 is able to verify the integrity of the compressed document 200', the document postprocessor 358 extracts the segment data structures 202', 204' from the compressed document 200'. If the extracted segment data structures 202', 204' were encrypted with the transmitting user's private encryption key, the segment data structures 202', 204' are decrypted with the decryption processor 354. The document postprocessor 358 then extracts the segment codes from the compressed segment data structures 202', 204'.
The document postprocessor 358 then queries the hash code entries 338 of the table 336 of the PROM 326 with the segment codes extracted from the segment data structures 202', 204' for the desired document segments, and then assembles the desired document with the document segment positional code data for each document segment, together with any uncompressed document segments. The assembled document is then transmitted to the user interface 114 of the recipient.
Another application of the invention is shown in Fig. 6. In Fig. 6, there is shown a document storage system 400 which is used for storing compressed documents and for retrieving and decompressing the compressed documents upon command. Preferably the document storage system 400 is provided at a node within a network 310, with then network 310 including user terminals and peripheral devices. The document storage system 400 comprises the user interface 114, the document transmitter 118, a central processing unit (CPU) 424 in communication with the user interface 114 and the document transmitter 118, and a non- volatile storage 470 and a read/write memory (RAM) 428 both in communication with the CPU 324.
Preferably, the non-volatile storage 470 comprises a magnetic disc storage device, and includes a document segment archive 408 and a compressed document archive 472 stored on the non-volatile storage 470. The document segment archive 408 comprises a table including a series of table entries, each comprising a hash code entry 438, and a predefined document segment 466 uniquely associated with each hash code entry 438. The compressed document archive 472 comprises a plurality of compressed electronic documents 200'. Typically, each compressed electronic document 200' comprises at least one compressed document segment data structure, and may also comprise an uncompressed data structure. Each compressed document segment data structure includes positional code data, and a segment code uniquely associated with one of the predefined document segments 466.
The RAM 428 includes a memory object defining document selecting means 474 for selecting one of the compressed documents 200', and a memory object defining deriving means 476 in communication with the document selecting means 474 for decompressing and deriving the selected document in accordance with the segment codes and positional code data defined in the compressed document 200' and in accordance with the data document segments associated with the segment codes.
In operation, a user selects a document from the document storage system 400 via the user interface 114 and the selecting means 474, and specifies the network address of the intended recipient user or peripheral device. The selecting means 474 retrieves the compressed document segment data structures and any uncompressed document segment data structures from the compressed document archive 472. The deriving means 476 then decompresses the selected compressed document 200' by extracting the segment codes from the compressed document segment data structure, and then derives the selected document as described above. The document transmitter 118 then transmits the document to the intended recipient user or peripheral device.
The foregoing description is intended to be illustrative of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill will envisage certain additions, deletions and/or modifications to the described embodiments which, although explicitly described herein, do not depart from the scope or spirit of the invention, as defined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

I CLAIM:
1. A document transmission system for transmission of a document comprising at least one document segment, the document transmission system comprising: a code generator for providing a document segment code, the segment code being uniquely associated with the at least one document segment; a document segment archive including segment records associated with predefined document segments, one of the predefined document segments corresponding to the at least one document segment, each said segment record including a code identifier uniquely associated with a respective one of the predefined document segments; and a document processor in communication with the document segment archive for deriving the document from the segment codes provided from the code generator.
2. The document transmission system according to claim 1 , wherein the code generator comprises a code processor for deriving the segment code from the at least one document segment, and a transmitter coupled to the code processor for transmitting the derived segment code to the document processor.
3. The document transmission system according to claim 2, wherein the segment code comprises a hash code, and the code processor comprises a hash code processor for deriving the hash code from the at least one document segment.
4. The document transmission system according to claim 2, wherein the predefined document segments are available over a network, each said predefined document segment having a unique network address, and the code processor is configured for deriving the segment code from the network address associated with the predefined document segment corresponding to the at least one document segment.
5. The document transmission system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the code processor includes an encryption processor for encrypting the segment code.
6. The document transmission system according to claim 5, wherein the encryption processor is configured for encrypting the derived hash code with a private encryption key.
7. The document transmission system according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the code generator includes a document generator for selecting the at least one document segment from a document segment set corresponding to the predefined document segments.
8. The document transmission system according to claim 2, wherein the transmitter comprises a wireless transmitter, and the document processor comprises a wireless receiver for receiving the transmitted segment code transmitted from the wireless transmitter, and a document server coupled to the wireless receiver and the document segment archive for identifying the predefined document segment associated with the received segment code.
9. The document transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the predefined document segments are available over a network, each said predefined document segment having a unique network address, and each said segment record includes a field identifying the network address associated with the respective predefined document segment.
10. The document transmission system according to claim 9, wherein each said code identifier comprises a hash code derived from the respective predefined document segment, and the document processor is configured for interrogating the hash code identifiers with the provided segment code.
11. The document transmission system according to claim 10, wherein each said hash code comprises an encrypted hash code.
12. A method for transmitting a document over a network, comprising the steps of: maintaining a document segment archive including segment records associated with predefined document segments, each said segment record including a code identifier uniquely associated with a respective one of the predefined document segments; at a first network location defining a document including at least one document segment, the at least one document segment corresponding to one of the predefined document segments; providing at a second network location a segment code uniquely associated with the at least one document segment; and at the second network location deriving the document from the segment code and a corresponding one of the segment records.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the providing step comprises the steps of deriving the segment code from the at least one document segments, and. transmitting the derived segment code over the network from the first network location to the second network location.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the segment code comprises a hash code, and the segment code deriving step comprises deriving the hash code from the at least one document segment.
15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the predefined document segments are available over the network, each said predefined document segment having a unique network address, and the segment code deriving step comprises deriving the network address associated with the predefined document segment corresponding to the at least one document segment.
16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the segment code deriving step further comprises encrypting the derived segment code.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the encrypting step comprises encrypting the derived segment code with a private encryption key.
18. The method according to claim 12, wherein each said code identifier comprises a hash code derived from the respective predefined document segment, and the document deriving step comprises the steps of interrogating the code identifiers with the provided segment code, and selecting a matching one of the predefined document segments.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein each said hash code comprises an encrypted hash code.
20. A document delivered with the method according to any of claims 12 to 19.
21. The document according to claim 20, wherein the delivered document comprises a financial instrument.
22. A method for compressing a document, comprising the steps of: providing a document segment archive comprising a plurality of predefined document segments; providing a user interface for defining a document with reference to selected ones of the predefined document segments; with the user interface choosing the selected predefined document segments; providing segment codes uniquely associated with respective ones of the selected predefined document segments; and retaining the segment codes in a storage medium, the selected predefined document segments associated with the retained segment codes when retained having conformity with the document.
23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the segment code providing step comprises deriving each said segment codes from the respective predefined document segment.
24. The method according to claim 23, wherein each said segment code comprises a hash code, and the segment code deriving step comprises deriving each said hash code from the respective predefined document segment.
25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the predefined document segments are available over a network, each said predefined document segment having a unique network address, and the segment code deriving step comprises deriving the network address associated with the respective predefined document segment.
26. The method according to claim 24 or 25, wherein each said segment code comprises an encrypted segment code, and the segment code deriving step further comprises encrypting each said derived segment code.
27. A document compressed with the method according to any of claims 22 to 26.
28. The document according to claim 27, wherein the compressed document comprises a compressed financial instrument.
29. An electronic document comprising: a compressed document portion including at least one hash code uniquely associated with a document segment, the document segment being disposed external to the compressed document portion; an uncompressed document portion including at least one of text and graphics; and means for retaining the compressed document portion in fixed relation with the uncompressed document portion, the uncompressed document portion and the document segment associated with the at least one hash code so fixed together defining a coherent document.
30. The electronic document according to claim 29, wherein the document segment includes financial information.
31. The electronic document according to claim 29 or 30, further comprising a digital signature portion derived from the compressed and uncompressed document portions.
32. A message transmission system comprising: a document processor for defining a message for transmission, the message comprising at least one message segment; a document segment archive including segment records associated with predefined document segments, one of the predefined document segments corresponding to the at least one message segment, each said segment record including a code identifier uniquely associated with a respective one of the predefined document segments; and a code generator in communication with the document processor and the document segment archive for providing the code identifier associated with the one predefined document segment cooesponding to the at least one document segment.
33. A document storage system comprising: a storage medium; a document archive including a plurality of document segments; a plurality of electronic documents each comprising at least one data structure, each said data structure including a segment code uniquely associated with one of the document segments, the document segments and the electronic documents stored together on the storage medium; document selecting means for selecting one of the electronic documents; and deriving means in communication with the document selecting means for deriving the selected electronic document in accordance with the respective data structures and the associated data document segments.
PCT/CA2000/000292 1999-03-22 2000-03-22 Document transmission system WO2000057605A1 (en)

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