Abstract: An application which requests cryptographic services from various service elements within an international cryptography framework is identified through a certificate to protect against the misuse of a granted level of cryptography. A cryptographic unit, one of the framework core elements, builds several certification schemes for application objects. One or more methods are provided that establish a degree of binding between an application code image and issued certificates using the framework elements. Within the framework, the application is assured of the integrity of the cryptographic unit from which it is receiving services. One or more mechanisms are provided which allow the application to validate that the cryptographic unit has not been replaced or tampered with.

Abstract: A cryptographic framework consists of four basic service elements that include a national flag card, a cryptographic unit, a host system, and a network security server. Three of the four service elements have a fundamentally hierarchical relationship. The National Flag Card (NFC) is installed into the Cryptographic Unit (CU) which, in turn, is installed into a Host System (HS). Cryptographic functions on the Host System cannot be executed without a Cryptographic Unit, which itself requires the presence of a valid National Flag Card before it's services are available. The fourth service element, a Network Security Server (NSS), can provide a range of different security services including verification of the other three service elements. Several different configurations that support policy within a cryptographic system allow the framework to be adapted to various connection schemes involving, at least, the cryptographic unit and the policy, including dedicated applications, e.g.

Abstract: Trusted processing capability, for example for a cryptographic unit element in an International Cryptography Framework, secures one or more tasks or processes associated with application code. Trusted processing is assured by a trusted element, where use of the trusted element is based upon the principles of separation and locality, i.e. where the trusted element is associated with a trusted computing base that is separated from the operating system and/or data by a trust boundary, and where protected mechanisms are used to access the trusted element, such that trusted execution occurs only locally in a trusted execution area. The trust processing capability also encompasses a policy controlled main CPU.

Abstract: Cryptographic hardware is provided that is disabled at the time of shipment and that is selectively enabled in a trusted fashion using methods and interfaces that may be controlled by and governed by government policy in strict compliance with existing and future legislation. A given cryptographic algorithm is disabled/enabled at several points, referred to as Touch Points, and referred to collectively as Touch Point Logic. Because attributes of each touch point are satisfied by providing data that are referred to as Touch Point Data, manufactures are allowed to include disabled cryptographic hardware in their products and governments are provided with the ability to enable this cryptographic hardware only in compliance with governing legislation.