RFC 3161 (rfc3161) - Page 1 of 26
Internet X
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group C. Adams
Request for Comments: 3161 Entrust
Category: Standards Track P. Cain
BBN
D. Pinkas
Integris
R. Zuccherato
Entrust
August 2001
Internet X.509 Public Key Infrastructure
Time-Stamp Protocol (TSP)
Status of this Memo
This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2001). All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
This document describes the format of a request sent to a Time
Stamping Authority (TSA) and of the response that is returned. It
also establishes several security-relevant requirements for TSA
operation, with regards to processing requests to generate responses.
1. Introduction
A time-stamping service supports assertions of proof that a datum
existed before a particular time. A TSA may be operated as a Trusted
Third Party (TTP) service, though other operational models may be
appropriate, e.g., an organization might require a TSA for internal
time-stamping purposes.
Non-repudiation services [ISONR] require the ability to establish the
existence of data before specified times. This protocol may be used
as a building block to support such services. An example of how to
prove that a digital signature was generated during the validity
period of a public key certificate is given in an annex.
Adams, et al. Standards Track