Technique for obtaining a single sign-on certificate from a foreign PKI system using an existing strong authentication PKI system

1. A method of creating a single sign-on role certificate using a PKI system, comprising:

accessing a PKI system, though a client platform, by a user in which a digital signature certificate has been previously created for the user and transmitting the digital signature certificate to the PKI system;

verifying the identity and validity of the user by accessing a directory using the digital signature certificate;

signaling the client platform to create a private/public key pair;

generating the private/public key pair at the client platform and transmitting the public key of the private/public key pair of the PKI system from the client platform;

transmitting the public key to a domain certificate authority for signature; and

returning the public key to the client platform signed by the domain certificate authority, wherein the signed public key is operative as the single sign-on role certificate.

2. The method recite in claim 1 , further comprising:

authenticating the user identity; and

verifying the user has authority to receive the public key.

3. The method recite in claim 2 , further comprising:

delivering a password to the user through the mail to the user's home address;

accessing the PKI system by the user using the password; and

receiving the digital signature certificate.

4. The method recite in claim 3 , wherein the digital signature may be used for both signatures and encryption.

5. The method recite in claim 1 , wherein the verifying the identity and validity of the user by PKI system by accessing a directory using the digital signature certificate further comprises;

verifying that the digital signature certificate has not been revoked; and

verifying that the user is still a member of the organization.

6. The method recite in claim 5 , further comprising:

storing the public key signed by the domain certificate authority in a hardware token, smart card, a computer, a magnetic strip card, or other storage device.

7. The method recite in claim 6 , further comprising;

accessing a foreign computer network not associated with the PKI system using the public key signed by the domain certificate authority.

8. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium and executable by a computer to create a single sign-on role certificate using a PKI system, comprising:

receiving a digital certificate associated with a user from a client platform;

verifying the identity and validity of the user by accessing a directory using the digital signature certificate;

signaling the client platform to create a private/public key pair;

receiving the public key of the private/public key pair from the client platform;

transmitting the public key to a domain certificate authority for signature; and

receiving a signed public key from the domain certificate authority; and

returning the signed public key to the client platform signed by the domain certificate authority, wherein the signed public key is operative as the single sign-on role certificate.

9. The computer program recited in claim 8 , further comprising:

authenticating the user identity; and

verifying the user has authority to receive the public key.

10. The computer program recited in claim 9 , wherein the digital signature certificate may be used for both signature and encryption.

11. The computer program recited in claim 8 , wherein verifying the identity and validity of the user by PKI system by accessing a directory using the digital signature certificate further comprises;

verifying that the digital signature certificate has not been revoked; and

verifying that the user is still a member of the organization.

12. The computer program recited in claim 11 , further comprising:

accessing a foreign computer network not associated with the PKI system using the public key signed by the domain certificate authority.

13. A method of creating a single sign-on role certificate using a PKI system, comprising:

creating a digital signature certificate verifying the identity of a user and authority of the user to obtain the digital signature certificate;

delivering a password to the user through the mail to the users home address;

accessing a PKI system, through a client platform, by the user using the password;

receiving the digital signature certificate from the PKI system;

accessing a PKI system through the client platform, by a user using the digital signature certificate;

verifying the validity of the user by accessing a directory using the digital signature certificate;

signaling the client platform to create a privite/public key pair;

generating the private/public key pair and transmitting the public key of the private/public key pair to the PKI system from the client platform;

transmitting the public key to a domain certificate authority for signature; and

returning the public key to the client platform signed by the domain certificate. authority, wherein the signed public key is operative as the single sign-on role certificate.

14. The method recite in claim 13 , wherein the digital signature certificate is used for both signatures and encryption.

15. The method recite in claim 13 , wherein verifying the identity and validity of the user by PKI system by accessing directory using the digital signature certificate further comprises;

verifying that the digital signature certificate has not been revoked; and

verifying that the user is still a member of the organization.

16. The method recite in claim 15 , further comprising:

storing the public key signed by the domain certificate authority in a hardware token, smart card, a computer, a magnetic strip card, or other storage device.

17. The method recited in claim 16 , further comprising:

accessing a foreign computer network not associated with the PKI system using the public key signed by the domain certificate authority.