Management of signing privileges for a cryptographic signing service
US8312262B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 30, 2004 |
| Grant date | Nov 13, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 21, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2209/80
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A Management System (MS) manages signing privileges for entities desiring cryptographic signatures, and a Certificate Authority (CA) provides a cryptographic signing service. MS registers entities for the cryptographic signing service, determines signing privileges for each entity, and processes requests from entities for signatures. For registration, MS obtains registration information for the entity and invokes CA to generate an identity certificate for the entity. This identity certificate contains cryptographic information used to uniquely identify the entity. For signature generation, MS receives a request for a signature from the entity, authenticates the entity, authorizes or denies the request based on the signing privileges stored for the entity, and invokes CA to generate the signature if the signature is authorized. CA provides the cryptographic signing service and generates signatures and certificates as directed by MS.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.