Digital Certificate
US6189097A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 1997 |
| Grant date | Feb 13, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2209/60
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A digital certificate includes framing characters defining a protected area. The protected area contains a selected set of components, including text-based components and binary-based components, and the certificate serves as a transport container for such components. A message digest or hashing algorithm applied to the protected area provides consistent results despite modifications to the certificate outside the protected area. A digital signature provides authentication of source and content integrity. Digital certificates under the present invention may be applied to a variety of purposes including but not limited to proof of ownership, gift certificates, upgrade purchases, and other applications where verification of source and content integrity are desirable.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.