US6189097B1
Expired / Lapsed
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Digital Certificate
Assignee: SafeNet Data Security Israel Ltd
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Filing: 1997-03-24
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Granted: 2001-02-13
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Expires: 2017-03-24
Abstract
Abstract A digital certificate includes framing characters defining a protected area. The protected area contains a selected set of components, including text-based components and binary-based components, and the certificate serves as a transport container for such components. A message digest or hashing algorithm applied to the protected area provides consistent results despite modifications to the certificate outside the protected area. A digital signature provides authentication of source and content integrity. Digital certificates under the present invention may be applied to a variety of purposes including but not limited to proof of ownership, gift certificates, upgrade purchases, and other applications where verification of source and content integrity are desirable.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank A. Tycksen, Jr.
- 👤 Charles W. Jennings
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/32; H04L9/3247; H04L9/3263; H04L2209/00; H04L2209/56; H04L2209/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of creating a digitally stored digital certificate, the method comprising the steps: selecting a given character set; designating from said given character set a protected area border character; providing said certificate as a sequence of members of said given character set; defining in said certificate a protected area as members of said given character set located between one and a next occurrence of said protected area border character; storing at least one digital component in said protected area; calculating a digital value as a function of digital content stored in said protected area; and storing a digital signature in said certificate but outside said protected area, said digital signature being encrypted and a function of said value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of creating a digitally stored digital certificate, the method comprising the steps: selecting a given character set; designating from said given character set a protected area border character; providing said certificate as a sequence of members of said given character set; defining in said certificate a protected area as members of said given character set located between one and a next occurrence of said protected area border character; storing at least one digital component in said protected area; calculating a digital value as a function of digital content stored in said protected area; and storing a digital signature in said certificate but outside said protected area, said digital signature being encrypted and a function of said value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said protected area is further defined by storage of said border characters wherein said one and said next occurrence of said border character are distinguished from a content occurrence of said border character forming a portion of said digital content.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said certificate includes line elements, and at least one of said line elements begins with one of said border characters and ends with one of said border characters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said at least one component comprises a tag field and at least one of a length field and a data field.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said data field includes only characters from a restricted character set.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein said restricted character set corresponds to a subset of an ASCII code character set.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said data field is a binary-based data converted from a binary data set to a restricted character set.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said restricted character set is a subset of an ASCII code character set.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said converted binary-based data is converted to said restricted character set by encoding according to base-64 encoding.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said value is a message digest value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said value is calculated by application of a hashing algorithm to characters only in said protected area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said digital signature is converted from a binary data set to a restricted character set.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein said restricted character set is a subset of an ASCII code set.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein said converted digital signature is converted to said restricted character set by encoding according to base-64 encoding.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
92 words
A digitally stored digital certificate comprising: a digital storage medium; a digital certificate data structure stored upon said storage medium, said data structure defining a protected area as including a sequence of characters occurring between one and a next occurrence of a designated protected area border character; at least one digital component stored in said protected area; and a digital signature stored in said certificate data structure but outside said protected area, said digital signature being encrypted and a function of said at least one digital component stored in said protected area.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
92 words
A digitally stored digital certificate comprising: a digital storage medium; a digital certificate data structure stored upon said storage medium, said data structure defining a protected area as including a sequence of characters occurring between one and a next occurrence of a designated protected area border character; at least one digital component stored in said protected area; and a digital signature stored in said certificate data structure but outside said protected area, said digital signature being encrypted and a function of said at least one digital component stored in said protected area.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A digital certificate according to claim 15 wherein said protected area is established by storing protected area border characters in a sequence of characters comprising said digital certificate data structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A digital certificate according to claim 16 wherein said certificate data structure includes line elements, and at least one of said line elements begins with one of said border characters and ends with one of said border characters.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A digital certificate according to claim 15 wherein said at least one component comprises a tag field and at least one of a length field and a data field.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A digital certificate according to claim 18 wherein said data field includes only characters taken from a restricted character set.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A digital certificate according to claim 19 wherein said restricted character set corresponds to a subset of an ASCII code character set.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A digital certificate according to claim 21 wherein said data field is a binary-based data converted from a binary data set to a restricted character set.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A digital certificate according to claim 21 wherein said restricted character set is a subset of an ASCII code character set.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A digital certificate according to claim 21 wherein said converted binary-based data is converted to said restricted character set by encoding according to base-64 encoding.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
A digital certificate according to claim 15 wherein said value is a message digest value.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
A digital certificate according to claim 15 wherein said value is calculated by application of a hashing algorithm to characters only in said protected area.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
A digital certificate according to claim 15 wherein said digital signature is converted from a binary data set to a restricted character set.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
A digital certificate according to claim 26 wherein said restricted character set is a subset of an ASCII code set.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
A digital certificate according to claim 26 wherein said converted digital signature is converted to said restricted character set by encoding according to base-64 encoding.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
125 words
A digitally stored digital certificate of product ownership of a given product by a given product owner, said certificate comprising: a digital storage medium; a digital certificate data structure stored upon said storage medium, said data structure defining a protected area as including a sequence of characters occurring between one and a next accurrence of a designated protected area border character,; a first digital component stored in said protected area and identifying said given product; a second digital component stored in said protected area and identifying said given product owner; and a digital signature in said certificate data structure but outside said protected area, said digital signature being encrypted and a function of at least said first and second components stored in said protected area.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
125 words
A digitally stored digital certificate of product ownership of a given product by a given product owner, said certificate comprising: a digital storage medium; a digital certificate data structure stored upon said storage medium, said data structure defining a protected area as including a sequence of characters occurring between one and a next accurrence of a designated protected area border character,; a first digital component stored in said protected area and identifying said given product; a second digital component stored in said protected area and identifying said given product owner; and a digital signature in said certificate data structure but outside said protected area, said digital signature being encrypted and a function of at least said first and second components stored in said protected area.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
A digital certificate according to claim 29 wherein said protected area is established by storing framing characters in said digital certificate data structure.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
A digital certificate according to claim 30 wherein said certificate data structure includes line elements, and at least one of said line elements begins with one of said framing characters and ends with one of said framing characters.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
A digital certificate according to claim 29 wherein said value is a message digest value.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
A digital certificate according to claim 29 wherein said value is calculated by application of a hashing algorithm to content of said protected area.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
A digital certificate according to claim 29 wherein said digital signature is converted from a binary data set to a restricted character set.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
A digital certificate according to claim 34 wherein said restricted character set is a subset of an ASCII code set.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
A digital certificate according to claim 34 wherein said converted digital signature is converted to said restricted character set by encoding according to base-64 encoding.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-02-13 | 2004-08-14 | 2005-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-02-13 | 2008-08-14 | 2009-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-02-13 | 2012-08-14 | 2013-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |