Method and system for management and notification of electronic certificate changes

• US 6,950,933 B1
• Filed: 05/19/2000
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: McAfee, LLC
• Original Assignee: Networks Associates Technology, Inc. (McAfee, LLC)
• Inventors: Cook, Jeff, Heyman, Michael, Dinsmore, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moorthy, Aravind K
• Application Number:
  US09/574,395
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 705/80, 379/57, 380/25, 713/158
• US Class Current: 713/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3268 using certificate validation, registration, distribution or revocation, e.g. certificate revocation list [CRL]

Abstract

A system for notification of a change in condition of an electronic certificate is disclosed. The system includes a certificate server comprising a processor having a computer program comprising a plurality of executable modules that are executable on the processor. A first executable module is for detecting a change in condition of an electronic certificate. A second executable module in the computer program is for notifying a user of the electronic certificate of the change in condition. The computer program may comprise a third module for negotiating a contract, called a certificate action point (CAP), with the certificate user regarding the type of change in condition the second module notifies the certificate user of, the way the second module notifies the certificate user, the diligence with which the second module notifies the certificate user of the change in condition, and a price for notifying the certificate user. The change in condition may comprise revocation of, roll-over of, change in field of, disablement of, expiration of the electronic certificate, or other type of change in condition of an electronic recognized by those skilled in the art. An updated electronic certificate may be forwarded to the certificate user, thereby updating the electronic certificate with respect to the certificate user to the new version of the electronic certificate. Alternatively, the certificate user may selectively download an updated version of the electronic certificate from the certificate server.

Claims

1. In a system adapted for monitoring for changes in condition of one or more electronic certificates, and adapted for communication with a user of the one or more electronic certificates, a method for notification of a change in condition of an electronic certificate, comprising:

detecting a change in condition of the electronic certificate;

notifying the user of the electronic certificate of the change in condition;

allowing the user to download an updated version of the electronic certificate;

forwarding an updated electronic certificate to the user concurrently with the step of notifying, thereby updating the electronic certificate;

notifying the user by electronic mail;

notifying the user by telephone using an electronic voice messaging system;

notifying the user by providing a paging signal to a pager for the recipient;

negotiating a contract with the user;

wherein the change in condition detected in the detecting step consists of a change in condition including;

revocation of, roll-over of, change in field of, disablement of, and expiration of the electronic certificate;

wherein a graphical user interface is utilized to allow the user to negotiate electronic certificate monitoring service contract terms, the graphical user interface including a plurality of drop down menus each associated with one of the terms for allowing the user to select among a plurality of choices relating to the associated terms the terms including;

the frequency in which the user is notified, including every month, every week, every day, and every minute,

the type of change the user is notified of in the step of notifying, including the revocation of, the roll-over of, the change in field of, the disablement of, and the expiration of the electronic certificate,

the way of notifying the user, including the electronic mail, the telephone using the electronic voice messaging system, and the paging signal to the pager for the recipient, the diligence with which the user is

notified of the change in condition, including a number of times contact is attempted with the user, and a price for notifying the user.