The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 17, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 21, 1999
Stephen R. Hanna, Bedford, MA (US);
Anne H. Anderson, Acton, MA (US);
Yassir K. Elley, Waltham, MA (US);
Radia J. Perlman, Acton, MA (US);
Sean J. Mullan, Watertown, MA (US);
Sun Microsystems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for identifying an applicant as a member of a group without explicitly listing all possible applicants. A test is defined which specifies the criteria for group membership. The test definition and an optional group identifier code are supplied to a criterion generator. The criterion generator generates an authenticated message based, at least in part, upon said test definition. The authenticated message is delivered to one or more criterion evaluators that verify the authenticated message. In one embodiment, once the authenticated message has been verified, the applicant for access to a resource presents a credential to the criterion evaluator. If the credential satisfies the test definition, the applicant is granted access to the specified resource and denied access if the credential does not satisfy the test definition. In another embodiment, upon presentation of a suitable credential to the criterion evaluator, the criterion evaluator produces a group membership credential that may be presented to an actuator that is not in communication with the criterion evaluator. If the actuator determines that the group membership credential is authentic, the applicant is granted access to the resource.