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Secret-key certificates

  • US 5,606,617 A
  • Filed: 10/14/1994
  • Issued: 02/25/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for implementing a cryptographic system in which a first party certifies a key pair of a second party, the apparatus comprising:

  • first key generation means that, on being given as input at least a security parameter, outputs a pair consisting of a secret key and a matching public key, to be used by the first party;

    second key generation means that, on being given as input at least a security parameter, outputs a pair consisting of a secret key and a matching public key, to be used by the second party;

    certificate verification means that, on being given as input the public key of the first party and a pair consisting of a public key and a presumed certificate on the public key, responds affirmatively or negatively, depending on whether the presumed certificate on the public key is a secret-key certificate on the public key or not;

    certificate issuing means that, on being given as input the secret key of the first party and a pair consisting of the secret key and the public key of the second party, outputs a digital signature on the secret key of the second party, such that the digital signature is a secret-key certificate on the public key of the second party; and

    certificate simulating means that, on being given as input the public key of the first party, outputs a pair consisting of a public key and a secret-key certificate on this public key,where the probability distribution of the output of the certificate simulating means is substantially indistinguishable from the probability distribution that applies when the public key is generated by the second key generation means and the secret-key certificate is generated by the certificate issuing means.

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