IP Library Granted Patent US 7,996,891
Granted Patent B2
US 7,996,891 · App. 12/022,218 · Granted Aug 9, 2011

Systems, methods and computer program products for generating anonymous assertions

Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,996,891
App. No.
12/022,218
Granted
Aug 9, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods and computer program products for generating anonymous assertions. Exemplary embodiments include a method for generating anonymous assertions, the method comprising engaging anonymous role authentication via one or more authenticator services, generating an assertion token on a trusted assertion device that is booted into a trusted configuration, and processing the assertion and validating a right of the user to make the assertion for the event.

Claims (17)

1. A method for generating anonymous assertions, the method comprising:

engaging anonymous role authentication via one or more authenticator services, including:

submitting an anonymous authorization token request and user credentials to the one or more authenticator services;

authenticating a user via the user credentials;

determining whether the user is authorized to make an assertion of the anonymous assertions, based on an assertion type that applies to an event;

determining whether the user has already authenticated with the one or more authenticator services for the event;

in response to authorizing the user to make the assertion in the event, completing a blind signature process;

supplying an anonymous authorization token to the user, the anonymous authorization token enabling the user to make the assertion in the event;

generating an assertion token on a trusted assertion device that is booted into a trusted configuration, wherein the assertion token is transmitted from any one of a plurality of locations and is transmitted via an Onion Routing method thereby preventing an assertion evaluator from tracing a location of the assertion token and an identity of the user, wherein the assertion token includes the anonymous authorization token coupled to an assertion descriptor, a platform configuration register and log, and an attestation identity key signature;

determining attestations between the trusted assertion device and the authenticator services, depending on pre-determined security assurance requirements, the attestations including at least one of: neither the trusted assertion device nor the authenticator services attesting, only the trusted assertion device attesting, only the authenticator services attesting and both the trusted assertion device and the authenticator services attesting;

processing the assertion and validating a right of the user to make the assertion for the event, including:

verifying the attestation identity key signature, which is registered and trusted by the assertion evaluator;

verifying the anonymous authorization token signature, in which a key for the anonymous authorization token signature is registered and trusted by the assertion evaluator;

verifying the platform configuration registers and the log, which are device-specific and attest a state of the device at a time the assertion token is generated; and

interpreting the assertion descriptor and the assertion.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein verifying the platform configuration registers and the log is performed by the trusted assertion device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising taking action in accordance with the interpreted assertion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2008
From: CARDONE, RICHARD J.; HALCROW, MICHAEL A.; LANDMAN, BENJAMIN M.; YODER, KENT E.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 020450/0425 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090193509A1 · Jul 30, 2009