Method and apparatus for distribution of digital certificates

A method comprising:

• connecting to a gateway using authentication information;
• and
• signaling to apply for a digital certificate by sending existing identity information to the gateway, the existing identity information being passed to a security server for verification, wherein the security server verifies that the existing identity information is correct and requests a use once password from a certificate authority;
• receiving the use once password from the certificate authority;
• accessing the certificate authority using the use once password;
• and
• obtaining the digital certificate from the certificate authority.

A machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a request from a device to gain access to a network to apply for a digital certificate, the request containing existing identity information;
• verifying the existing identity information;
• and
• requesting a use once password from a certificate authority on behalf of the device, the use once password being used to access the certificate authority to obtain the digital certificate;
• wherein if the use once password is granted, the use once password is forwarded to the requesting device.

A method comprising:

• receiving a request from a device to gain limited access to a network for purpose of requesting a digital certificate, the request containing existing identity information;
• verifying the existing identity information;
• and
• requesting a limited use password from a certificate authority on behalf of the device, the limited use password being used to access the certificate authority to obtain the digital certificate;
• wherein if the limited use password is granted, the limited use password is forwarded to the requesting device.

A machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• connecting to a gateway using authentication information;
• and
• signaling to apply for a digital certificate by sending existing identity information to the gateway, the existing identity information being passed to a security server for verification, wherein the security server verifies that the existing identity information is correct and requests a use once password from a certificate authority;
• receiving the use once password from the certificate authority;
• accessing the certificate authority using the use once password;
• and
• obtaining the digital certificate from the certificate authority.

A machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a request from a device to gain limited access to a network for purpose of requesting a digital certificate, the request containing existing identity information;
• verifying the existing identity information;
• and
• requesting a limited use password from a certificate authority on behalf on the device, the limited use password being used to access the certificate authority to obtain the digital certificate;
• wherein if the limited use password is granted, the limited use password is forwarded to the requesting device.

A system comprising:

• a gateway connected to a network;
• and
• a security server coupled to the gateway;
• wherein the gateway receives a request from a client to gain access to a network to apply for a digital certificate, the request containing existing identity information, the security server verifies the existing identity information and request a use once password from a certificate authority on behalf of the client, the use once password being used to access the certificate authority to obtain the digital certificate;
• and
• wherein if the use once password is granted, the use once password is forwarded to the client.

A system comprising:

• a gateway connected to a network;
• a security server coupled to the gateway;
• and
• a client connecting to the gateway using authentication information, and signaling to apply for a digital certificate by sending existing identity information to the gateway, the existing identity information being passed to the security server for verification;
• wherein the security server verifies that the existing identity information is correct and requests a use once password from a certificate authority;
• and
• wherein the client receives the use once password from the certificate authority, accesses the certificate authority using the once password, and obtains the digital certificate from the certificate authority.

A system comprising:

• a gateway connected to a network, the gateway receiving a request from a client to gain limited access to the network for purpose of requesting a digital certificate, the request containing existing identity information;
• and
• a security server coupled to the gateway to verify the existing identity information and request a limited use password from a certificate authority on behalf of the client, the limited use password being used to access the certificate authority to obtain the digital certificate;
• wherein if the limited use password is granted, the limited use password is forwarded to the client.