System and method for automatic digital certificate installation on a network device in a data-over-cable system
First Claim
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1. A method for automatic installation of a digital certificate on a cable modem in a data-over-cable system, the method comprising:
- performing a digital certificate installation process on the cable modem during initialization to determine whether a digital certificate is installed on the cable modem, the determination being made by the cable modem;
if not,generating a digital certificate filename on the cable modem;
generating a digital certificate request including the digital certificate filename on the cable modem, the digital certificate request being initiated by the cable modem;
sending the digital certificate request including the digital certificate filename from the cable modem to a predetermined network server;
receiving a digital certificate file on the cable modem including at least one digital certificate, the digital certificate file having been sent from the network server; and
storing the at least one digital certificate received from the network server on the cable modem;
wherein the digital certificate is required to authenticate the cable modem on a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) to prevent unauthorized cable modems from accessing services of the CMTS.
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Abstract
A system and methods for automatic digital certificate installation on network devices in a data-over-cable network are developed. One of the methods includes sending a digital certificate request from a cable modem to a predetermined network server upon determining on the cable modem that there is no digital certificate already installed on the cable modem. The method further includes generating at least one digital certificate on the network server and providing the at least one digital certificate to the cable modem.
277 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for automatic installation of a digital certificate on a cable modem in a data-over-cable system, the method comprising:
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performing a digital certificate installation process on the cable modem during initialization to determine whether a digital certificate is installed on the cable modem, the determination being made by the cable modem;
if not,generating a digital certificate filename on the cable modem; generating a digital certificate request including the digital certificate filename on the cable modem, the digital certificate request being initiated by the cable modem; sending the digital certificate request including the digital certificate filename from the cable modem to a predetermined network server; receiving a digital certificate file on the cable modem including at least one digital certificate, the digital certificate file having been sent from the network server; and storing the at least one digital certificate received from the network server on the cable modem; wherein the digital certificate is required to authenticate the cable modem on a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) to prevent unauthorized cable modems from accessing services of the CMTS. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for providing digital certificates to at least one cable modem in a data-over-cable system, the method comprising:
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performing a digital certificate installation process on the cable modem during initialization to determine whether a digital certificate is installed on the cable modem, the determination being made by the cable modem;
if not,generating a digital certificate request on the cable modem, the digital certificate request being initiated by the cable modem; receiving the digital certificate request including a digital certificate filename on a network server from the cable modem; authenticating the request on the network server using at least one parameter specified in the digital certificate filename; generating at least one digital certificate for the cable modem; and providing the at least one digital certificate from the network server to the cable modem; wherein the digital certificate is required to authenticate the cable modem on a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) to prevent unauthorized cable modems from accessing services of the CMTS. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for dynamic digital certificate installation in a data-over-cable network, the system comprises, in combination:
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a cable modem configured to determine whether a digital certificate is installed on the cable modem during initialization, and if not, request a digital certificate from a predetermined network server; and the network server configured to dynamically generate a digital certificate upon receiving a digital certificate request including a digital certificate filename from the cable modem, the digital certificate request including the digital certificate filename having been initiated by the cable modem, and further configured to provide the digital certificate to the cable modem; wherein the digital certificate is required to authenticate the cable modem on a Cable Modem Termination (CMTS) to prevent unauthorized cable modems for accessing services of the CMTS. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification