Methods And Apparatus For Use In Enabling A Mobile Communication Device With A Digital Certificate

A mobile communication device, comprising:

• a wireless transceiver;
• and
• one or more processors coupled to the wireless transceiver;
• the one or more processors being operative to:
• cause a communication session to be established with a host server adapted to provide a communication service for the mobile communication device;
• perform communication operations in the communication session with the host server for activating the communication service for the mobile communication device;
• cause a request message for a digital certificate to be sent in the communication session;
• receive the digital certificate in response to the request message;
• and
• store, in memory, the digital certificate for use in communications for the mobile communication device.

In a host server adapted to provide a communication service, a method for use in enabling a mobile communication device for secure communications, the method comprising the acts of:

• causing a communication session to be established with the mobile communication device;
• performing communication operations in the communication session with the mobile communication device for activating the communication service for the mobile communication device;
• and
• causing configuration information to be sent to the mobile communication device in the communication session, the configuration information comprising information for use by the mobile communication device for constructing a request message for obtaining a digital certificate from a certificate authority (CA).

A communication system, comprising:

• a host server for connection in a communication network;
• a mobile communication device;
• the host server being adapted to provide a communication service for the mobile communication device via a wireless communication network;
• the host server being further adapted to:
• cause a communication session to be established with the mobile communication device;
• perform communication operations in the communication session with the mobile communication device for activating the communication service for the mobile communication device;
• and
• cause configuration information to be sent to the mobile communication device in the communication session;
• the mobile communication device being adapted to:
• perform communication operations in the communication session with the host server for activation of the communication service;
• receive the configuration information in the communication session;
• construct, based on the configuration information, a request message for obtaining a digital certificate from a certificate authority (CA);
• cause the request message for the digital certificate to be sent;
• receive the digital certificate in response to the request message;
• and
• store, in memory, the digital certificate for use in communications for the mobile communication device.