System and method for administering digital certificate checking

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a plurality of time periods at a mobile communication device, each time period of the plurality of time periods defining a periodicity for checking validity of a digital certificate;

storing the plurality of time periods at the mobile communication device;

after receiving and storing the plurality of time periods, the mobile communication device:

receiving a digital certificate for a recipient;

selecting, in dependence on one or more factors, a time period for use with the digital certificate from the plurality of time periods; and

validating the digital certificate when a last time since a validity of the digital certificate was checked is not within the selected time period.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selecting and the validating occurs upon an indication that a message is to be encrypted using the digital certificate at the mobile communication device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of time periods are received from a different source than the digital certificate.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of time periods are received over a wireless network from an administrator system.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more factors comprise an identity of a certificate authority issuing the digital certificate, such that a first time period is selected for a first certificate authority and a second time period is selected for a second certificate authority.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a message is to be encrypted at the mobile communication device using the digital certificate, and the one or more factors comprise a level of encryption to be applied to the message.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a message is to be encrypted at the mobile communication device using the digital certificate, and the one or more factors comprise a priority or importance of the message.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of time periods are stored separately from the digital certificate.

9. A mobile communication device, comprising:

at least one communication subsystem;

at least one memory component; and

at least one processor in communication with the at least one communication subsystem and the at least one memory component, the at least one processor being configured to enable:

receiving a plurality of time periods using the at least one communication subsystem, each time period of the plurality of time periods defining a periodicity for checking validity of a digital certificate;

storing the plurality of time periods in the at least one memory component;

after receiving and storing the plurality of time periods:

receiving a digital certificate for a recipient;

selecting, in dependence on one or more factors, a time period for use with the digital certificate from the plurality of time periods; and

validating the digital certificate when a last time since a validity of the digital certificate was checked is not within the selected time period.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 9 , wherein the selecting and the validating occurs upon an indication that a message is to be encrypted using the digital certificate at the mobile communication device.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of time periods are received from a different source than the digital certificate.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of time periods are received over a wireless network from an administrator system.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more factors comprise an identity of a certificate authority issuing the digital certificate, such that a first time period is selected for a first certificate authority and a second time period is selected for a second certificate authority.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 9 , wherein a message is to be encrypted at the mobile communication device using the digital certificate, and the one or more factors comprise a level of encryption to be applied to the message.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 9 , wherein a message is to be encrypted at the mobile communication device using the digital certificate, and the one or more factors comprise a priority or importance of the message.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of time periods are stored separately from the digital certificate.

17. A non-transitory electronic device-readable medium bearing code which, when executed by at least one processor of an electronic device, causes the electronic device to implement the method of:

receiving a plurality of time periods, each time period of the plurality of time periods defining a periodicity for checking validity of a digital certificate;

storing the plurality of time periods;

after receiving and storing the plurality of time periods:

receiving a digital certificate for a recipient;

selecting, in dependence on one or more factors, a time period for use with the digital certificate from the plurality of time periods; and

validating the digital certificate when a last time since a validity of the digital certificate was checked is not within the selected time period.

18. The non-transitory electronic device-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of time periods are received from a different source than the digital certificate.

19. The non-transitory electronic device-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the one or more factors comprise an identity of a certificate authority issuing the digital certificate, such that a first time period is selected for a first certificate authority and a second time period is selected for a second certificate authority.

20. The non-transitory electronic device-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of time periods are stored separately from the digital certificate.