Abstract: A method to enable remote, secure, self-provisioning of a subscriber unit includes, a security provisioning server: receiving, from a subscriber unit, a certificate signing request having subscriber unit configuration trigger data; generating provisioning data for the subscriber unit using the subscriber unit configuration trigger data; and in response to the certificate signing request, providing to the subscriber unit the provisioning data and a subscriber unit certificate having authorization attributes associated with the provisioning data, to enable the self-provisioning of the subscriber unit.

Abstract: A method and device for confirming authenticity of a public key infrastructure (PKI) transaction event between a relying node and a subject node in a communication network enables improved network security. According to some embodiments, the method includes establishing at a PKI event logging (PEL) server a process to achieve secure communications with the relying node (step 705). Next, the PEL server processes reported PKI transaction event data received from the relying node (step 710). The reported PKI transaction event data describe the PKI transaction event between the relying node and the subject node. The reported PKI transaction event data are then transmitted from the PEL server to the subject node (step 715). The subject node can thus compare the reported PKI transaction event data with corresponding local PKI transaction event data to confirm the authenticity of the PKI transaction event.

Abstract: A method and device for distributing public key infrastructure (PKI) certificate path data enables relying nodes to efficiently authenticate other nodes in an autonomous ad-hoc network. The method includes compiling, at a certificate path management unit (CPMU), the PKI certificate path data (step 405). One or more available certificate paths are then determined at the CPMU for at least one relying node (step 410). Next, the PKI certificate path data are distributed by transmitting a certificate path data message from the CPMU to the at least one relying node (step 415). The certificate path data message includes information identifying one or more trusted certification authorities associated with the one or more available certificate paths.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing Certificate Revocation List (CRL) information in an ad hoc network are provided. Ad hoc nodes in an ad hoc network can each transmit one or more certificate revocation list advertisement message(s) (CRLAM(s)). Each CRLAM includes an issuer certification authority (CA) field that identifies a certification authority (CA) that issued a particular certificate revocation list (CRL), a certificate revocation list (CRL) sequence number field that specifies a number that specifies the version of the particular certificate revocation list (CRL) that was issued by the issuer certification authority (CA). Nodes that receive the CRLAMs can then use the CRL information provided in the CRLAM to determine whether to retrieve the particular certificate revocation list (CRL).