Customer-Specific Tool for Certificate Signing Request Generation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manual process of generating certificate signing requests for digital certificates is prone to errors and discrepancies due to the need for customers to manually input specific information, such as distinguished name, common name, mailing address, and encryption algorithm, which can hinder successful ordering, installation, and usage of digital certificates.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that create customer-specific tools by injecting unique customer information and desired encryption algorithm or certificate authority into the tools, allowing customers to generate certificate signing requests and install digital certificates without manual input, thereby reducing errors and streamlining the process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If customers manually input information to generate certificate signing requests, then they can control the accuracy of the information, but the process becomes error-prone and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of certificate signing requestVSAvoidmanual input process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically populating the certificate signing request form with customer information retrieved from databases before the customer submits the request. This pre-filling of fields eliminates manual input errors while maintaining accuracy through automated data retrieval from verified customer records.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service by enabling customers to review and confirm their information automatically generated by the system, without requiring manual data entry. The customer interface allows them to verify the automatically populated fields and initiate the certificate ordering process with a single action, combining automation with customer control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If multiple individuals complete different stages of the certificate generation process manually, then they can perform quality checks, but discrepancies and errors increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistency of certificate informationVSAvoidmulti-stage manual process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple manual stages into a single automated workflow where customer information is retrieved once from databases and automatically propagated through all certificate generation stages. This consolidation eliminates the discrepancies that arise when different individuals manually handle the same information across multiple stages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the automatically generated certificate signing request is presented to the customer for review and confirmation. This feedback loop allows customers to verify the accuracy of the information before submission, ensuring consistency without requiring multiple manual review stages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If customers provide detailed information manually, then the system can generate accurate certificates, but the time required for ordering and installation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of digital certificateVSAvoidspeed of certificate ordering and installation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary retrieval and preparation of customer information from databases before the customer initiates the certificate ordering process. This pre-processing of data enables rapid generation of accurate certificates without requiring customers to manually provide detailed information at the time of ordering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical manual data entry process with automated electronic retrieval from databases. This substitution maintains the precision of accurate certificate generation while dramatically reducing the time required, as automated data extraction and form population occur instantaneously rather than requiring manual typing and verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9258128B1Systems and methods for creating customer-specific tools for generating certificate signing requests

Publication Date: 2016.02.09 DIGICERT INC

AI summary

A method for creating customer-specific tools for generating certificate signing requests may include (1) identifying a request from a customer for a tool for generating a certificate signing request for a digital certificate, (2) creating, in response to the request, a customer-specific version of the tool that is unique to the customer by injecting information into the customer-specific version of the tool that (a) uniquely identifies the customer and (b) identifies a desired encryption algorithm for the digital certificate and/or a desired certificate authority for the digital certificate, (3) configuring the customer-specific version of the tool to generate the certificate signing request using the injected information, and (4) providing the customer-specific version of the tool to the customer to enable the customer to generate, using the customer-specific version of the tool, the certificate signing request without having to manually provide the injected information.