Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a customizable digital certificate. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a digital certificate that includes a certificate public key, one or more public keys corresponding to one or more respective items of information, and at least one encrypted item of information each encrypted with a private key corresponding to a respective one of the one or more public keys. In another embodiment, the method includes providing digital data representing a certificate having a certificate public key and one or more encrypted items of information each encrypted with the certificate public key. The method further includes decrypting at least one encrypted item of information with a certificate private key corresponding to the certificate public key to provide at least one item of information, and including the at least one item of information in the certificate. The certificate or components thereof may be compiled by a certification authority and transmitted to a subscriber. The certificate may be generated locally by the subscriber. The subscriber may digitally sign an object and incorporate a certificate in the digital signature. Items of information include, for example, the subscriber's name, address, telephone, age, email address, authority within an organization, and the like. The present invention provides for customization of digital certificates, allowing the subscriber to specify the item(s) of information to be disclosed to recipients.

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First Claim