Locating network resources for an entity based on its digital certificate

摘要

A method and apparatus are provided for locating network resources over a communication network. The method includes receiving a digital certificate identifying a first entity and extracting information from at least one predetermined field of the digital certificate. The extracted information is used as input to a location generation function to create a resource locator (e.g., a URL). The network resource is contacted over the communication network in accordance with a communication protocol using the resource locator to obtain requested information concerning the first entity.

主权项

1. A method of locating network resources over a communication network, comprising:
receiving a digital certificate identifying a first entity; extracting information from at least one predetermined field of the digital certificate; using the extracted information as input to a location generation function to create a resource locator comprising at least one static portion and at least one dynamic portion, for a certificate revocation list repository, wherein the location generation function comprises rules used to derive the resource locator, and wherein said at least one dynamic portion is derived by the location generation function from the information extracted from the digital certificate; and contacting the network resource over the communication network in accordance with a communication protocol using the resource locator to obtain requested information concerning the first entity.