System and method for downloading of files to a secure terminal
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for protecting keys used to digitally sign files to be downloaded to a terminal, comprising:
- a smartcard having stored thereon a private key; and
a file signing tool arranged to receive a file to be signed, to access the smartcard, and to download the file to the terminal,wherein the smartcard includes an embedded secure processor programmed to perform all digital signing operations that require access to the private key before supplying results of the operations to the file signing tool, the file signing tool then performing further processing as necessary to generate a digital signature that is appended to the file for download to the terminal,wherein said smartcard has stored thereon an authentication level indicating a number of PINs that must be input in order to access the smartcard.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Protection of private keys used to digitally sign files to be downloaded to a terminal is accomplished by storing the private keys in smartcards, and arranging a secure processor unit embedded in the smartcard to perform all signing operations requiring access to the keys so that the keys never leave the card. In addition, access to the signing operations is protected by multiple PINs, which may be distributed to multiple individuals and/or used to establish different signing authorization levels associated with different types of files.
15 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A system for protecting keys used to digitally sign files to be downloaded to a terminal, comprising:
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a smartcard having stored thereon a private key; and a file signing tool arranged to receive a file to be signed, to access the smartcard, and to download the file to the terminal, wherein the smartcard includes an embedded secure processor programmed to perform all digital signing operations that require access to the private key before supplying results of the operations to the file signing tool, the file signing tool then performing further processing as necessary to generate a digital signature that is appended to the file for download to the terminal, wherein said smartcard has stored thereon an authentication level indicating a number of PINs that must be input in order to access the smartcard. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for protecting keys used to digitally sign files to be downloaded to a terminal, comprising:
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a smartcard; and means for storing a key on the smartcard and means for protecting the key by requiring input of multiple PINs before the smartcard can be accessed, wherein the smartcard includes an embedded secure processor programmed to perform digital signing operations that require access to the key, wherein said PINs that must be input are combined in order to obtain a combined PIN to be compared with a PIN stored on the smartcard before said digital signing operations are performed. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method of protecting keys used to digitally sign files to be downloaded to a terminal, comprising the steps of:
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providing a smartcard having stored thereon a private key; providing a file signing tool arranged to receive a file to be signed, to access the smartcard, and to download the file to the terminal; storing at least one PIN on the smartcard; storing an authentication level on the smartcard, said authentication level indicating a number of PINs that must be input to the file signing tool in order to enable said file signing tool to access the smartcard; reading the authentication level and prompting at least one user to input said PINs to the file signing tool; combining said PINs to obtain a combined PIN; comparing said combined PIN with said at least one PIN stored on the smartcard; and if said combined PIN corresponds to said at least one PIN stored on the smartcard, utilizing a secure processor embedded in the smartcard to perform all digital signing operations that require access to the private key before supplying results of the operations to the file signing tool, the file signing tool then performing further processing as necessary to generate a digital signature that is appended to the file for download to the terminal. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification