At+t Corp.

At&t Intellectual Property I, L.p.

David P Maher

Daniel Nelson Heer

Michael M Kaplan

David W Faucher

A method for performing electronic transactions, comprising receiving a long-term certificate, authenticating a user associated with the long-term certificate, and then sending a short-term certificate to the authenticated user. In addition, risk associated with the user can be evaluated, and this risk information, as well as other information, can be included in the short-term certificate.

Method and apparatus using digital credentials and other electronic certificates for electronic transactions

A method and apparatus for establishing and distributing a currency is disclosed. First, a user accesses a web site and downloads a form. The user completes and returns the form with a currency name, an initial amount of currency and other parameters which characterize the currency. Next, the system server checks to ensure the requested currency name is unique. If the name is unique, the system server and user's smart card employ a cryptographic key management system to establish the currency as a leaf in a currency tree on the user's smart card. A new root value is computed for the currency tree and saved in memory on the user's smart card. The user may then distribute the currency to other holders of smart cards from the same smart card issuer using the same cryptographic key management system employed between the system server and the user's smart card.

Method and apparatus for defining private currencies

Method and apparatus using digital credentials and other electronic

In an electronic card of the type for insertion into a host electronic device for providing to the host device security parameters pertaining to the rightful holder of the card, the security parameters are stored in encrypted form to preclude their discovery by unauthorized parties. The decryption mechanism resists probing by unauthorized parties.

Key management scheme for use with electronic cards

A security node disposed in the telecommunications network connecting calling and called parties transforms information (which can be voice, data, facsimile, video and other types of calls or messages) encrypted in a first format to (a) encrypted information in a different format or to (b) non-encrypted information, and vice-versa. The node is accessible from any location connected to the network. By routing calls or messages originated by the calling party and destined for the called party via the security node, and providing appropriate control signals to the node, the information may be encrypted only over a portion of the transmission path between the parties, and clear over the remainder of the transmission path. Alternatively, the information may be encrypted in different portions of the path using different encryption algorithms. This arrangement enables the parties to obtain relatively secure communications even if only one party has a security device at the originating or terminating end, or if the parties have security devices using different handshaking protocols and encryption algorithms.

Secure telecommunications

In communication devices for conducting secure communications over insecure channels, means for detecting active attacks on voice or video communication is provided. These means enhance security of exchange of certificates, netkeys, and the like for use in securing subsequent voice, video, data, or facsimile communications.

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Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, United States of America

David P Maher