System and method for providing secure communications between clients and service providers
First Claim
1. A computer-based method for providing secure communications between a service provider and clients, comprising:
- receiving a request from a client with an identifier for the client;
authenticating an identity of the client by processing the client identifier; and
when the client authenticating verifies the client as authentic, generating a response to the client including an identifier for the service provider that can be used by the client in authenticating an identity of the service provider.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for secure network communications. The method includes receiving at the service provider a request from a client that includes an identifier (e.g., a digital certificate) for the client. The identity is authenticated by the service provider by retrieving a stored copy of a digital certificate for the client sending the request and comparing the copy of the digital certificate included with the request to the stored copy. If authenticated, access to the service provider is granted and typically, a response is generated and transmitted to the client that includes an identifier or a digital certificate for the service provider. The client then authenticates the service provider by comparing the certificate with a stored copy prior to transmitting further messages. The method includes encrypting and decrypting the requests and the responses using private and public key pairs associated with the stored digital certificates.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A computer-based method for providing secure communications between a service provider and clients, comprising:
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receiving a request from a client with an identifier for the client;
authenticating an identity of the client by processing the client identifier; and
when the client authenticating verifies the client as authentic, generating a response to the client including an identifier for the service provider that can be used by the client in authenticating an identity of the service provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for providing secure digital data communications between a service device and a plurality of client devices, comprising:
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at the service device, receiving from a first client device digital data including a digital certificate for the first client device;
first operating the service device to retrieve a copy of the digital certificate for the first client device;
second operating the service device to compare the received digital certificate for the first client device and the retrieved copy of the digital certificate for the first client device to authenticate the first client device; and
if the first client device is authenticated, third operating the service device to transmit a digital data response to the first client device including a digital certificate for the service device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A secure communications system, comprising:
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a server linked to a digital communication network including memory storing a digital certificate for the service provider and a digital certificate for a plurality of client devices, a verification tool adapted for authenticating transmitting client devices by comparing received client digital certificates with the stored digital certificates for the client devices, and a response generator generating responses over the network including a copy of the digital certificate for the service provider; and
a client device linked to the network to allow communication with the server including memory storing a digital certificate for the client and a copy of the digital certificate for the server, a verification tool for authenticating the server by comparing received server digital certificates with the stored server digital certificate, and a request generator generating requests over the network including a copy of the stored digital certificate for the client. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification