Instant messaging apparatus and method with instant messaging secure policy certificates

摘要

Briefly, a method and apparatus for facilitating instant messaging generates (e.g. issues) an instant messaging public key cryptography policy certificate containing selected instant messaging public key cryptography policy control information. An instant messaging device obtains the instant messaging public key cryptography policy certificate through the use of a local instant messaging secure public key infrastructure proxy. Based on instant messaging policy control data in the instant messaging public key cryptography policy certificate, operations of the local instant messaging secure PKI proxy are controlled for outgoing and incoming instant messages. Hence, among other advantages, central enforcement of security policies for instant messaging users is provided.