Digital Certificate Forwarding Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Efficiently updating digital certificates in a distributed system is challenging due to the need for frequent replacements and the complexity of managing certificate validity and trust issues across multiple service endpoints.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for updating digital certificates involve receiving certificate data with forwarding metrics, determining if forwarding thresholds are met, and forwarding the data to another proxy server if conditions are satisfied, while also verifying the certificate and storing it in shared memory to improve efficiency and prevent network storms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digital certificate data is forwarded to multiple proxy servers to ensure updates reach all service ends, then certificate update coverage is improved, but network storm risk increases due to excessive forwarding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by recording the forwarding count and time in the digital certificate data. Each proxy server checks whether the forwarding count has reached the threshold or whether too much time has passed since the first forwarding, and stops forwarding accordingly. This feedback loop prevents unlimited forwarding propagation while ensuring adequate distribution of certificate updates across the distributed system.
2Productivity
If digital certificate validity period is extended to reduce replacement frequency, then operational efficiency is improved, but security responsiveness deteriorates when certificate trust is revoked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the certificate forwarding process dynamic by implementing time-based and count-based thresholds. The forwarding behavior adapts based on the current state: early in the certificate lifecycle, updates are propagated widely; later, forwarding is restricted. This dynamic approach allows the system to balance between efficient update distribution and preventing unnecessary propagation, especially when certificates near expiration or trust revocation.
3Loss of time
If digital certificate forwarding is performed frequently to ensure timely updates, then update timeliness is improved, but network resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by establishing a time threshold for certificate forwarding. After the first forwarding occurs, subsequent forwarding is restricted within a certain time window. This periodic control mechanism ensures that updates are propagated promptly initially, but then slows down to avoid excessive network resource consumption, achieving a balance between timeliness and resource efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a method and apparatus for updating a digital certificate. A specific embodiment of the method includes: receiving digital certificate data, the digital certificate data including a number of times of forwarding and a first forwarding moment; determining whether the following conditions are satisfied: the number of times of the forwarding being less than a preset threshold, or a time length between a current moment and the first forwarding moment being less than a preset time length; and increasing, in response to determining at least one of the conditions being satisfied, the number of times of the forwarding by a preset number, and forwarding the digital certificate data to another proxy server.