US 12,438,707 B2
Public key infrastructure using quantum computers (PKIQC)
Jeffrey J. Stapleton, O'Fallon, MO (US); and Richard Orlando Toohey, San Francisco, CA (US)
Assigned to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., San Francisco, CA (US)
Filed by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., San Francisco, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 6, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/531,600.
Prior Publication US 2025/0192995 A1, Jun. 12, 2025
Int. Cl. H04L 9/08 (2006.01); H04L 9/32 (2006.01)
CPC H04L 9/0852 (2013.01) [H04L 9/0877 (2013.01); H04L 9/321 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
at least one memory; and
at least one processor that processes bits, the at least one processor configured to:
perform certificate chain validation comprising validating a plurality of certificates, wherein performing the certificate chain validation comprises:
validating a first signature on a first certificate of the plurality of certificates using a first public key, wherein the first signature is generated for the first certificate by a first quantum computer using a first digital signature generation algorithm based on a first private key, and wherein the first public key and the first private key form a first public/private key pair; and
validating a second signature on a second certificate of the plurality of certificates using a second public key, wherein the second signature is generated for the second certificate by a second quantum computer using a second digital signature generation algorithm based on a second private key, and wherein the second public key and the second private key form a second public/private key pair; and
in response to successfully completing the certificate chain validation, use a third public key in the second certificate to verify a third signature on signed data, wherein the first quantum computer and the second quantum computer processes quantum bits, wherein
the signed data is signed by an end entity device using a third private key of the end entity device;
the third public key and the third private key form a third public/private key pair;
the end entity device comprising a classical computer having at least one processor that processes bits; and
the signed data comprises a message, code, document, file, program, or application signed by the end entity using the third private key.