SECURE WIRELESS GUEST ACCESS

摘要

A system and method for providing ad hoc personal digital certificate provisioning and enabling secure user connectivity to wireless and wired IP communication networks through state of the art security mechanisms while maintaining ease of use for users and control for network providers. The method includes an authentication interface accepting user credentials, and a validation entity for credential verification and access authorization. The credentials include a unique identifier, a system generated password and a personal digital certificate associated with the user. The unique identifier is associated with a personal characteristic such a cellular telephone number associated with a cellular account or an email associated with someone known both to the user and the network provider, i.e. a sponsor. The password is preferentially transmitted to the user through a SMS message to his cellular telephone. In another embodiment the password is transmitted to the user's email address after asking a sponsor for authorization. The user also receives a digital certificate that enables him to utilize state of the art wireless security mechanisms to authenticate with the network and maintain confidentiality of his network traffic throughout the session. The system and method therefore permit instant, secure and trusted access for guest users at networks where they were not previously known.