Method and apparatus for obtaining status of public key certificate updates
US6442688B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 29, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 27, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 29, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q20/3821
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for public key certificate updates is accomplished when a user of a secured communications system provides, from time to time, a public key certificate update subscription update to a server. The public key certificate update subscription information identifies at least one subscriber subject (i.e., another end-user) that the user desires to obtain real time public key updates when they occur. In response to the subscription information, the server monitors public key certificates of the at least one subscriber subject. When a change occurs to the public key certificate of the at least one subscriber, the server provides an indication of the change to the requesting user. As such, while the user is on-line with the secured communications system, the server can provide the user with real-time updates of subscriber subjects' encryption public key certificates and/or signature public key certificates. In addition, or as an alternative, to providing the subscription information, the user may provide an indication of a local replica of the public key certificates that it has stored to the server. Upon receiving the replica, the server determines whether the user's…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.