Method and system for the supply of data, transactions and electronic voting

• US 8,495,723 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2010
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dare, Peter Roy, Owlett, John, Tyabji, Imran Faiz
• Primary Examiner(s): KUCAB, JAMIE R
• Application Number:
  US12/823,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20100268650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 726/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/463 Electronic voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/608 Watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/045 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply hybrid encryption, i.e. combination of symmetric and asymmetric encryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements using a plurality of keys or algorithms H04L9/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3268 using certificate validation, registration, distribution or revocation, e.g. certificate revocation list [CRL]

Abstract

A method and system for supply of data, including generating a first digital certificate referred (empowerment certificate) signed with a first signing entity'"'"'s electronic signature. The empowerment certificate includes attributes of the described entity, information identifying the first signing entity, indication of data relating to the described entity, indication of a source of the data, and identification of a relying entity to which the data can be supplied. The relying entity forwards the empowerment certificate to a source supplying the data indicated in the empowerment certificate. The data may be supplied to the relying entity by a second digital certificate (custom certificate), signed with a second signing entity'"'"'s electronic signature. Custom certificates may appear in custom certificate revocation lists. A system and method for transfer of ownership of electronic property from a first entity to a second entity, and a method and system for electronic voting are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of providing a digital signature based on a digital certificate comprising:

receiving signed data generated with the digital signature using a private key corresponding to a public key, the signed data including one or more attributes identifying a digital certificate to be generated;

generating the digital certificate signed with an electronic signature of a signing entity, the digital certificate including;

one or more attributes of a described entity which are sufficient to obtain the public key;

one or more attributes of the digital certificate which include one or more attributes identifying the signing entity; and

an indicated period of validity of the digital certificate which begins earlier than a time of generation of the digital certificate;

wherein;

the digital certificate is generated after the digital signature is generated; and

the period of validity of the digital certificate is that short period during which the digital signature was generated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of digital signatures identify the digital certificate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more attributes identifying the digital certificate to be generated include a serial number.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising recording a lowest available serial number which can be used for the next digital certificate to be generated or recording a last used serial number using each private key.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital signature is generated using a computer device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the signing entity comprises a first signing entity application residing on a computer device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein data indicated in the digital certificate includes confirmation of a payment or a debt due from the described entity identified in the digital certificate to a relying entity identified in the digital certificate.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a second signing entity indicates in a second digital certificate a guarantee of a debt indicated as due in the digital certificate.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a change in previously supplied data is indicated by supplying a list identifying the second digital certificate relating to the previously supplied data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital certificate includes:

an indication of data relating to the described entity which is to be supplied;

an indication of one or more sources for the data to be supplied; and

one or more attributes identifying one or more relying entities to which the data is to be supplied.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising specifying data which is no longer authorized to be supplied to the one or more relying entities.