Format-Independent Authentication of Arbitrary Scalable Bit-Streams using One-Way Accumulators

We propose a mechanism for authentication of general scalable bit-streams, based on quasi-commutative one-way accumulator functions. Such functions allow flexible partitioning between an auxiliary hash computed for removed parts of an original bit-stream and the hash that a receiver can compute from the received bit-stream, and yet allow generation of a common root hash for the original bit-stream against which the authentication may be conducted. Unlike prior work using Merkle hash trees, the number of auxiliary hashes to be transmitted is always one, independent of the actual version of the bit-stream to be authenticated, and the mechanism is independent of the order of hash accumulation. Further, the method readily lends itself to format-independent authentication and adaptation mechanism by use of appropriate standardized metadata.