Method and apparatus for public key management
US6370249B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 25, 1997 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 25, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L9/0891
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for public key management is accomplished when an associated authority provides, from time to time, a public key of at least one of a plurality of certificate authorities to a client. The associated authority provides the public key in a trustworthy manner over an on-line communication path and/or a store and forward communication path, which may be done using a self-signed signature public key certificate. Upon receiving the public key, the client maintains it in a storage medium associated with a client cryptographic engine. When a client application needs a security-related operation to be performed, it evokes the client cryptographic engine via an application program interface. Upon being evoked the client cryptographic engine determines whether a public key certificate associated with the security-related operation is verified as authentic based on the public key of at least one of the plurality of certification authorities. This is done by verifying the signature of the certification authority that signed the public key certificate associated with the security related operation. Once the signature is verified, the contents of the public key certificate …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.