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Time-Stamp
Authority And Time-Stamp Service Provider?
The birth of a Time-Stamp
involves three levels of operation :
Time-Stamping Authority (TSA), Time-Stamping Service Provider
(TSSP) and End Users
Time-Stamping
Authority (TSA)
The Time-Stamp Authority (TSA) is responsible for the issuing and
verification of time stamps. This Authority should be trustworthy,
neutral, reliable, concise, independent and operating 24 hours a
day. Its service is supported entirely from the time stamping services
it offered. The Authority should offer contractual arrangements
with Time Stamping Service Providers (TSSP) and large scaled e-business
firms in issuing time stamps. This is done to avoid the high management
costs occurred by managing every end user directly.
Time-Stamping
Service Provider (TSSP)
Time-Stamping Service Provider (TSSP) functions as the middle layer
between the Time-Stamping Authorities and the end users, facilitating
services and communication between the two. It is usually an industry
specific who understands the needs of its end users. By this, they
will be able to recruit end users and manage the accounts and bills
more efficiently. The TimeStamping Service Provider runs into contractual
agreements with the Time-Stamp Authority to provide time stamps
and possible value-added services to independent end users.
End users
End users can be firms, organizations or independent individual
users. They subscribe the service from Time-Stamping Service Providers
and obtain the service through websites or related softwares.
Certificate
Authorities in Hong Kong
There are currently 3 Certificate Authorities in Hong Kong, with
the Hong Kong Post being the first one. The present Certificate
Authorities are the most suitable choices for developing into Time-Stamping
Authorities in Hong Kong, since it possesses a well developed Public
Key Infrastructure and expertise in the field. It also possesses
the technology of digital certificates and thus the opportunity
to combine such technology with the time stamp.
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