Distributed Certificate Authority Framework
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing certificate authority systems rely on centrally located CAs, which can lead to management challenges, such as long certificate expiry periods and complex revocation processes, and are not optimized for distributed networks, where each browser may have unique trust configurations, affecting the validity of certificate bundles.
Innovation Solution
A distributed certificate authority framework that generates short-expiry certificates on demand, using multiple CAs with the same signing key at edge locations, and pre-computes new certificates for high-volume websites, with private keys stored securely using TPM or HSM, and a remote key server for signing operations, ensuring optimal performance across various browsers and operating systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a centrally located CA creates signatures in response to certificate signature requests with long expiry periods, then the CA can manage certificates with simple processes, but the certificate management becomes complex and revocation processes are difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized CA into multiple distributed CAs located at different network nodes. Each distributed CA independently manages certificates for its local domain, reducing the complexity of centralized management while maintaining secure certificate issuance. This segmentation allows each CA to have simpler revocation processes since they only manage their local certificates rather than global certificate chains.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to certificate management by establishing parent-child relationships between distributed CAs. Child CAs inherit trust from parent CAs, creating a multi-level trust architecture that simplifies management at each level while maintaining overall security. This dimensional approach allows localized management decisions without affecting the entire certificate system.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a centrally located CA issues certificates with long expiry periods, then the certificates remain valid for extended periods, but security is reduced due to longer exposure windows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic certificate expiry management where different certificate types have different validity periods based on their usage requirements. Critical certificates can have shorter expiry periods for enhanced security, while less critical certificates can have longer validity. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize between security and convenience on a per-certificate basis rather than using a uniform long expiry period for all certificates.
3Reliability
If intermediate CA certificates are used to sign endpoint certificates on demand, then the root CA private key remains offline and secure, but the intermediate CAs require complex trust chain management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the distributed CA infrastructure universal by enabling any distributed CA to act as both a root CA for its local domain and as an intermediate CA for subordinate domains. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate root and intermediate CA roles, simplifying trust chain management while maintaining the security benefits of offline root key storage. Each distributed CA can issue certificates directly or delegate to child CAs as needed.
4Reliability
If a certificate bundle includes all certificates in the chain up to the first trusted certificate, then the client can validate the certificate, but the bundle becomes complex and browser compatibility becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by tailoring certificate bundles to the specific requirements of individual clients or browser types. Instead of providing a universal bundle that includes all intermediate CAs, the system identifies which intermediate CAs are necessary for a particular client's validation path and includes only those. This localized approach reduces bundle complexity while ensuring proper validation for each client's trust configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A server receives a single certificate signature request from a requestor and determines that the requestor is authorized for a certificate corresponding to the single certificate signature request. The server generates a first certificate corresponding to the single certificate signature request, wherein the first certificate has a first expiry value. The server transmits the generated first certificate to the requestor. Responsive to an amount of time elapsing, the server automatically generating a second certificate corresponding to the single certificate signature request, wherein the amount of time expiring is less than the first expiry value. The server transmits the generated second certificate to the requestor.