Method and apparatus for dynamically accessing security credentials and related information
US6732277B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 8, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 4, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 8, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L63/065
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for dynamically accessing security credentials that are used to participate in a secure communication begins by obtaining virtual credentials of an entity, where the virtual credentials include a data specifier and/or an identifier. The data specifier functions as a pointer to a particular physical security credential, its data storage location, and the format of the physical security credential. The identifier functions as a pointer to secondary virtual credentials, which include at least one data specifier. The processing continues by generating physical security credentials based on the physical security credentials retrieved via the data specifiers. The processing then continues by utilizing the physical security credentials by an individual entity (e.g., a party, a server, an administrator, etc.) such that the individual entity may participate in a secured communication. If, during the secured communication, any of the physical security credentials change, the physical security credentials are updated in accordance with a synchronization record to maintain data synchronization.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.