METHOD FOR ENABLING PKI FUNCTIONS IN A SMART CARD

摘要

The present invention discloses a method for enabling at least a part of a Smart Card. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a one time activation code is generated in a server at a telephone operator. The activation code is sent via registered mail to a user of a Smart Card, e.g. a SIM card in a GSM cellular phone. When the user enters the activation code into the cellular phone, the entry is transmitted to the server for verification. Upon successful verification, the server transmits an enabling command to the phone for thereby enabling the intended part of the SIM card. This may be enabling of PKI functionalities that until now have been hidden in the SIM card and thus unavailable for the user. The user may then choose his own signing PIN for authentication, encryption and transaction signing. In case of enabling PKI functions, all necessary generation of private and public keys and establishment of certifications are carried through when the activation code is verified.