Web Server Digital Signature for Zero Footprint Apps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital signature technologies face challenges in securely signing rich web application content, particularly in zero footprint web applications, where client-side software restrictions and server-maintained content compromise security and authenticity.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method where a web application server generates and validates digital signatures using its private key and the end-user's identity, enabling secure digital signing of modified documents without requiring additional client-side software, ensuring cryptographic security and authenticity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digital signature is implemented using client-side software, then cryptographic security is improved, but device complexity and user burden increase due to installation and upgrade requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that performs the digital signature generation function. Instead of requiring client-side software to sign documents, the client uploads the document to the server, which then generates the digital signature using its private key and returns the signed document to the client. This mediator approach transfers the cryptographic operation from the client device to the server, eliminating installation requirements while maintaining security.
2Ease of operation
If zero footprint web application server is used, then ease of operation is improved by eliminating client software installation, but reliability deteriorates because digital signature security becomes unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as a mediator that provides digital signature capabilities to zero footprint web applications. The server maintains private keys and performs cryptographic operations, enabling documents signed by these lightweight applications to have the same security guarantees as traditional applications with installed software.
Solution Approach 2:
The server provides self-service digital signature functionality by automatically generating signatures using its private key and the end-user's identity without requiring any client-side cryptographic operations. The server manages its own private key material and performs all signing operations independently.
3Ease of operation
If server maintains bulk of web application content, then ease of operation is improved, but difficulty of detecting and measuring increases regarding signature authenticity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the server validates that the document content matches the signed content before generating or verifying digital signatures. The server maintains awareness of the relationship between the original content and the signed version, providing feedback that confirms authenticity even when content is dynamically generated or modified on the server side.
Data Source
AI summary
The illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for receiving a request from a client to instantiate an electronic document. After successful completion of mutual authentication between a web application server and the client, the web application server provides the electronic document to the client. The web application server may then receive a set of changes associated with the electronic document to form a modified document. After receiving a request from the client for a digital signature to be generated for the modified document, the web application server generates a digital signature using a private key of the web application server and an identity of an end-user associated with the client. The web application server then signs the modified document with the digital signature.