At&t Intellectual Property I, L.p.

Michael D Cheaney

Brian M Novack

Timothy R Thompson

Daniel Larry Madsen

David Dunmire

Methods and apparatus to certify digital signatures are disclosed. An example method includes retrieving, from a first database, a first geographical location associated with an identification number associated with a network device and identified in a request to certify a digital signature, comparing the first geographical location associated with the identification number to a second geographical location to verify the second geographical location, and in response to the verification of the second geographical location and to a comparison of (a) biometric information associated with a user associated with the request and (b) stored biometric information, instructing a certificate issuer to certify the digital signature to indicate an authenticity of the digital signature.

Methods and apparatus to certify digital signatures

Methods and apparatus to certify digital signatures are disclosed. An example method includes retrieving, from a first database, a first geographical location associated with an identification number associated with a network device and identified in a request to certify a digital signature, comparing the first geographical location associated with the identification number to a second geographical location to verify the second geographical location, determining that the first geographical location matches the second geographical location, and certifying the digital signature to indicate an authenticity of the digital signature based on the verification of the second geographical location and a comparison of (a) biometric information associated with a user associated with the request and (b) stored biometric information.

A method includes receiving at a first computer a new certificate which is to replace an old certificate associated with the first computer and associating by the first computer the new certificate with the first computer. In response to the first computer associating the new certificate with the first computer, the first computer accesses an email address book of the first computer having information identifying a second computer as having received the old certificate to determine from the information that the second computer is to associate the new certificate in place of the old certificate with the first computer. In turn, the first computer transmits the new certificate to the second computer for the second computer to associate the new certificate with the first computer.

Method for communicating certificates to computers

A change management system is integrated with a transaction tool management system including a processor for scheduling a change in status of at least one transaction tool of the transaction tool management system. The system includes a receiver that receives a request for approval of the change in the status of the at least one transaction tool, a storage that stores the received request, a transaction tool classification process module that classifies transaction tools, and a change management module that schedules the change in status when the request for approval is approved. The change management module uses classification information from the transaction tool classification process module to schedule the change in status. The change management system uses information available from the transaction tool management system to schedule the change in the status of the at least one transaction tool managed by the transaction tool management system.

Transaction tool management integration with change management

Methods and apparatus to certify digital signatures are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a request to certify a digital signature from a user, receiving information about a physical characteristic of the user, comparing the information about the physical characteristic to stored physical characteristic information, and based on the comparison, at least one of certifying the digital signature based on the comparison or requesting certification of the digital signature based on the comparison.

A change management system coordinates information of a transaction tool managed by a transaction tool management system. The system includes a receiver that receives, over a communications network, activity information and/or lifecycle event information for the transaction tool. The system also includes a storage that stores the received information. Additionally, the system includes a processor that manages a change in a status of the transaction tool based on the received information.

A method for using an update engine to promulgate a transaction tool to a recipient. The method may include the steps of: generating a transaction tool operation request signal wherein the transaction tool operation request signal includes a request for a new transaction tool and/or an updated transaction tool, transmitting the transaction tool operation request signal to a transaction tool issuer, receiving a transaction tool update signal from the transaction tool issuer wherein the transaction tool update signal includes a new transaction tool and/or an updated transaction tool, determining the recipient, and transmitting the transaction tool update signal to the recipient.

Method of promulgating a transaction tool to a recipient

A scanner discovers digital certificates by scanning an address range. The scanner scans the address range to determine whether a digital certificate has been installed for each address in the address range. The scanner receives digital certificate information when the digital certificate has been installed for an address. The address range that is scanned may include addresses associated with an installed digital certificate and addresses not associated with an installed digital certificate.

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Arnold, MO, United States of America

Michael D Cheaney