Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for managing public keys through a server

US6978025B1 · kind B1 · utility

25Cited by
14References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 27, 2000
Grant dateDec 20, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 27, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L63/06
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for managing public keys through a server that stores associations between public keys and email addresses. This system operates by receiving a first message from a client containing a request for approval of a client public key along with the client public key. In response this request for approval, the system sends a second message to the client containing a request for identity confirmation that includes the client public key. If a third message is received from the client containing an affirmative response to the request for identity confirmation, the system stores an association between a client email address and the client public key in a database. This allows other clients to look up the client public key in the database.

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