Abstract: A document archiving and retrieval system enables third parties to verify that an electronic document had been archived on a particular date and time. For each document to be archived, a hash function generates a digital fingerprint of the document, and inserts it into a hash list file, together with an indicator of the location of the file in the archive. The hash list file is submitted to an electronic time stamping authority to obtain a corresponding digital time stamp. Upon request, authentication of the hash list file with the digital time stamp, and verification that the current hash of the file matches that in the hash list file proves that the document was archived on the date indicated by the digital time stamp, and had not subsequently been altered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for segmentation of a digital picture consisting of a multiplicity of single picture elements comprising determining if one of one and several features relating to contiguous picture objects comprising picture elements and picture segments are conforming or not conforming based on a specific homogeneity criterion by means of referencing a predetermined tolerance for each feature as a termination criterion, within which feature values relating to the contiguous picture objects in question may differ; if one of one feature and several features relating to the contiguous picture objects are determined to be conforming then merging the conforming picture objects; and repeating the resulting segmentation until the resulting segmentation converges in a stable or approximately stable condition in which no further contiguous picture objects are determined to be conforming.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for segmentation of a digital picture consisting of a multiplicity of single picture elements comprising determining if one of one and several features relating to contiguous picture objects comprising picture elements and picture segments are conforming or not conforming based on a specific homogeneity criterion by means of referencing a predetermined tolerance for each feature as a termination criterion, within which feature values relating to the contiguous picture objects in question may differ; if one of one feature and several features relating to the contiguous picture objects are determined to be conforming then merging the conforming picture objects; and repeating the resulting segmentation until the resulting segmentation converges in a stable or approximately stable condition in which no further contiguous picture objects are determined to be conforming.