METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TEST AND VERIFICATION OF FIELD AND TERMINAL EQUIPMENT

摘要

A method of authenticating a unit of equipment within a networked environmen t is disclosed. A unique digital signature is generated for each unit of equipement and stored therein. When the unit of equipment is installed in th e networked environment it will not operate within the network unless the network can authenticate the digital signature by request self test (80) and then performs the self test (90). The generation and authentication of the digital signature (60) are based on a digital signature standard (DSS).