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Method for securely using digital signatures in a commercial cryptographic system

  • US 20020029337A1
  • Filed: 06/01/2001
  • Published: 03/07/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1994
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. In a cryptographic system wherein a certifying authority issues digital certificates identifying users of said system, said digital certificates being digitally signed with a private key of said certifying authority to form a digital signature and requiring a public key of said certifying authority in order to verify said digital signature, and wherein a user transaction in said cryptographic system requires verification by a recipient of said user transaction, said verification based on information in said digital certificates and requiring said public key, a method of controlling access to said public key comprising the steps of:

  • denying access to said public key;

    providing said recipient with at least one message containing rules of said system, said rules including maintaining secrecy of said public key;

    by said recipient, digitally signing said at least one document, by which said recipient agrees to said rules; and

    in response to said digital signing, permitting said recipient to utilize said public key.

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