Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for providing off-line secure communications

US6247127A · kind A · utility

60Cited by
17References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 19, 1997
Grant dateJun 12, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 19, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L63/123
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing off-line secure communications is accomplished when an end-user is on-line with a security information repository and transmits a request for security information relating to at least one targeted communication entity. The targeted communication entity may be another end-user that has sent the present end-user an encrypted message or another end-user that will receive an encrypted message from the present end-user. In response to the request, the present end-user subsequently receives the security information and updates a local security information repository (e.g., cache memory) with the security information related to the at least one targeted communication entity. Having updated the local security information repository, the current end-user goes off-line from the security information repository. While off-line, the current end-user confidently processes a secure communication with the at least one targeted communication entity based on the security information that is stored in the local security information repository.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.