Abstract

The document authentication apparatus provides document authentication and authenticity capability. Document authentication requires that the person to be charged apply an authenticating mark on the document indicating intent to authenticate the document. This requirement is analogous to a signature on a printed document and is implemented in the document authentication apparatus electronically through the use of both hardware and software. A program which immediately checks the identicalness of the document at the transmitting and receiving station through a high speed comparison, locks in the document such that no modification can occur and then awaits authentication handshakes from the two end points. Such authentication is real-time and can be both hardware and software executable, i.e., password and physical confirmation.