SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING CRYPTOGRAPHIC KEYS

摘要

The invention relates to systems and methods for using cryptographic keys, reading an existing digital certificate using a cryptographic hardware device and extracting a public key from the existing digital certificate. A message requesting the certificate that identifies a new use and/or field of the certificate associated with the public key is generated. The message requesting the certificate is signed and sent to a certification authority. A new digital certificate that includes the new use/field is received from the certification authority. The new digital certificate is then used for cryptographic operations such as procedures for signing, encryption and the like using the existing pair of keys.