Abstract:
A method of managing electronic safes, comprising a step of authenticating a user requesting access to a safe, by means of authentication data of said user, said authentication data to be provided by the user being dependant of an entity by means of which the user is requesting said access.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the French Patent Application No. FR 07 59698, filed on Dec. 10, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
       FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention concerns the field of electronic safes. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    Electronic safes comprise storage spaces, with secure access, for electronic data. They offer administrations, companies and private individuals a solution for storing, in electronic form, various content, for example pay slips, bank statements, insurance policies, photographs, etc. (see for example the website www.e-coffrefort.fr). 
         [0004]    Such electronic safes are generally created, and then managed, by means of a server belonging to a trusted third party and accessible from a large number of terminals (computers, mobile telephones with WAP or Internet connection, etc.) by the users of the electronic safes. 
         [0005]    When a company or an administration opens a safe for a user, it generally provides him with a security module, for example hardware (smart card, USB key, etc.), having means of storing in particular authentication data. 
         [0006]    When the user wishes to access his electronic safe, he connects from a terminal, for example to a corresponding HTML page of the website of the company, and then carries out an authentication step using the security module. 
         [0007]    The authentication step generally comprises reading authentication data stored in the security module in order to allow authentication of the user and, consequently, authorize or not the access to an electronic safe. 
         [0008]    A user can have the benefit of several electronic safes: a safe offered by his employer, another by his bank and/or insurance company, by an administration, etc. 
         [0009]    Nevertheless, it may be desirable to have a user take advantage of one and the same secure electronic data storage space or the same electronic safe, even when this service is offered to the user by different companies or administrations, both while allowing on the one hand the latter to manage this service offer independently of one another, and on the other hand while safeguarding security of access to the electronic safes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    According to a first aspect, the invention proposes a method of managing electronic safes, comprising a step of authenticating a user requesting access to a safe, by means of authentication data of said user, said authentication data to be provided by the user being dependant of an entity by means of which the user is requesting said access. 
         [0011]    The present invention therefore allows the use of one and the same electronic safe by a user with the necessary access security, when this electronic safe supply service is made available to him by several companies or administrations (corresponding to the respective entities) by means in particular of respective smart cards comprising the authentication data. The authentication data of the user to be provided for accessing the safe by means of a first entity are different from the authentication data of the user to be provided for accessing this same safe by means of a second entity. The user can also have access to an additional electronic safe specific to the company or administration corresponding to the entity by means of which the user is requesting access. 
         [0012]    The companies or administrations can, independently of one another, stop their electronic safe supply service with regard to a user. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment, the method comprises a step of identifying the entity by means of which the user is requesting access to the safe and a step of determining authentication data to provide depending on the identified entity. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, the method comprises, when the user requests for the first time an access to the electronic safe by means of an entity from amongst a first and a second entity, a step of transmitting authentication data to a terminal of the user with a view to the storage of said authentication data in a hardware security module assigned to the user and associated specifically with said entity, the authentication data transmitted with a view to storage in the hardware security module associated with a first entity being different from the authentication data transmitted with a view to storage in the hardware security module associated with a second entity. 
         [0015]    This measure makes it possible to control the provision of authentication data according to the entity by means of which the user requests the use of the electronic safe. 
         [0016]    This measure also makes it possible for access to the electronic safe, offered by each company or administration corresponding to a respective entity, to be issued following a strong authentication of the user with the server. A given card allows access by means of a single entity, allowing increased security. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the method comprises a step of signing and/or encryption, by means of a signature and/or encryption key, of data to be stored on request of said user in said electronic safe, the key used when the user requests storage in said electronic safe by means of a first entity being identical to that used when the user requests storage in said electronic safe by means of a second entity. 
         [0018]    This measure makes it possible to use electronic data stored in the safe of the user independently of the entity by means of which the data were stored and of the entity by means of which the data are then used. 
         [0019]    According to a second aspect, the invention proposes an electronic safe management server, comprising authentication means designed to authenticate a user requesting access to a safe by means of authentication data of said user, said authentication data to be provided by the user being dependant of an entity by means of which the user is requesting said access. According to a third aspect, the invention proposes a computer program comprising instructions for implementing the steps of a method according to the first aspect of the invention during execution of the program on a computer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge further from a reading of the following description. This is purely illustrative and must be read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  depicts a system according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  depicts a method according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  depicts a system  1  comprising a server S connected, via a telecommunications network R, to servers P A  and P B  themselves connected via a telecommunications network R′ to a plurality of terminals. 
         [0024]    The server S comprises a storage database B comprising electronic safes. The server S is adapted to offer users services relating to the use of electronic safes by means of terminals, servers P A  or P B , networks R and R′ and the server S. 
         [0025]    Amongst the terminals making it possible to access electronic safes are for example personal computers (“PCs”), mobile telephones, personal digital assistants, etc. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  in particular depicts a terminal T used by an individual called U. The terminal T is for example a PC, provided with a display screen and a keyboard, and equipped with an interface for reading and writing to a smart card, an interface that will be called below a smart card reader L. 
         [0027]    Let it be considered that a company A offers the user U a hardware security module, for example a smart card CP UA , in the colours of the company A (comprising for example its logo and name), with a view to giving access to an electronic safe CF U  dedicated to the user in the database B. 
         [0028]    This smart card CP UA , once configured, will enable the user to access a safe CF U , consult it, and modify, delete and/or store electronic data therein. 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , in a step  1   A  for configuring the smart card CP UA , the user U connects from the terminal T to the web portal of the company A hosted by the server P A . There follows a phase of exchanges between an application C A  of the web portal of the company A and the user U via the terminal T. 
         [0030]    During this exchange phase, the user indicates his wish to use his electronic safe. It is then requested that the user U insert, into the smart card reader L, the smart card CP UA  issued by the company A. 
         [0031]    The request for use of the electronic safe CF U  of the user U is then transferred, by the application of the web portal of the company A, from the server P A  to the server S. 
         [0032]    The server S then transmits to the terminal T via the server P A : 
         [0033]    an authentication certificate CAUT UA  and an associated pair of keys (a public key and a private key), intended to subsequently allow authentication of the user U with the server S, with a view to authorising or not the access to the safe CF U ; 
         [0034]    a signature certificate CSIG U  and an associated pair of keys, intended for signing the data to be stored in the electronic safe CF U ; and 
         [0035]    an encryption certificate CCHH U  and the associated pair of keys, intended for encrypting/decrypting the data to be stored in the electronic safe CF U . 
         [0036]    These certificates and associated keys are loaded into the smart card CP UA  by means of the smart card reader L. 
         [0037]    These certificates and the associated keys, dedicated to the user U, come from one (or more) registration and certification authorities acting as trusted third parties. In one embodiment, the server S itself is this trusted third party. 
         [0038]    The smart card CP UA  now configured will enable the user U to access his safe CF U  and use it. 
         [0039]    In one embodiment, the smart card CP UA  makes it possible to have access not only to the safe CF U , which is for example intended to store the personal items of the user, but also to another safe intended to store data relating to the exchanges between the company A and the user U (for example if the user U is an employee of the company A, professional data will be stored in this other safe). Only the card CP UA  makes it possible to have access to this other safe. 
         [0040]    It should be noted that, prior to recording of the certificates on the smart card CP UA , particular procedures for identifying the user are implemented depending on the level of security expected by the server P A  according to embodiment. The user identity can for example be verified during a formal meeting (face to face) with the user and/or from the release of data considered sufficiently personal. 
         [0041]    It will now be considered that a company B subsequently offers the user U a smart card CP UB  in the colours of the company B with a view also to giving access to the electronic safe CF U  dedicated to the user U. 
         [0042]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , in a step  1   B  for configuring the smart card CP UB , the user U connects from the terminal T (these operations could of course be carried out from another terminal provided with a device for writing data into a smart card) to the web portal of the company B hosted by the server P B . 
         [0043]    In a phase of exchanges between an application of the web portal of the company B and the user U, the user U indicates his wish to use his electronic safe and inserts the smart card CP UB  into the smart card reader L. 
         [0044]    The request for use of the electronic safe of the user U is then transferred, by the application of the web portal of the company B, from the server P B  to the server S. 
         [0045]    The server S then transmits to the terminal T via the server P B  an authentication certificate CAUT UB  and an associated pair of keys, the signature certificate CSIG U  and its associated pair of keys, and the encryption certificate CCHH U  and its associated pair of keys. These certificates and associated keys are loaded into the smart card CP UB  by means of the smart card reader L. 
         [0046]    The signature and encryption certificates and the associated keys, stored in the two smart cards held by the user U for use of the safe CF U , are thus identical. On the other hand, the authentication certificates of the user U and the associated keys stored in these two smart cards, for allowing authentication of the user U with the server S when he wishes to access the safe, are distinct. 
         [0047]    The smart card CP UB  now configured will enable the user U to access his safe CF U  and use it. 
         [0048]    In one embodiment, the smart card CP UB  issued to the user makes it possible to have access not only to the safe CF U , but also to a safe intended to store data relating to the exchanges between the company B and the user U. Only the card CP UB  makes it possible to have access to this safe. 
         [0049]    The step  2   A  below describes the operations for accessing and using the safe CF U  with the help of the smart card CP UA . 
         [0050]    The user U connects to the server S by means of the application C A  of the portal of the company A and inserts his smart card CP UA  into the smart card reader L. 
         [0051]    A phase of strong authentication of the user U by the server S then takes place (step  21   A ), on the basis in particular of the authentication certificate CAUT UA  and the associated keys. The authentication data are usable after provision to the reader L by the user U of the access code of the smart card CP UA . 
         [0052]    In the step  21   A , for example, the server S supplies a random number to the terminal T. The smart card CP UA  signs the random number with the secret authentication key of the user U stored in the smart card CP UA , then the terminal T transmits the random number thus encrypted to the server S (therefore indicating the authentication data of the user U), which decrypts it using the public authentication key of the user U. If it finds the random number initially transmitted to the terminal T, the user U has been correctly authenticated. 
         [0053]    This step takes place for example in the form of an HTTPS session. 
         [0054]    As a reminder, strong authentication makes it possible to verify the identity of the user on the basis of at least two factors from amongst what he knows (password, PIN code), what he possesses (smart card, electronic certificate), and what he is (biometric parameter such as a fingerprint, hand, face, etc.). 
         [0055]    Once the user U has been authenticated by the server S, he can carry out the storage of new electronic data encrypted and/or signed by means of the signature and encryption keys stored on the smart card CPA, and/or the modification, consultation or deletion of data already stored in the safe CF U  (step  22   A ). 
         [0056]    The step  2 B below describes the operations for accessing and using the safe CF U  with the help of the smart card CP UB . 
         [0057]    The user U connects to the server S by means of the application C B  of the portal of the company B and inserts his smart card CP UB  into the smart card reader L. 
         [0058]    A phase of strong authentication of the user U by the server S then takes place (step  21   B ), on the basis in particular of the authentication certificate CAUT UB , the associated keys and the access code provided by the user U for using the authentication data stored on the smart card CP UB . 
         [0059]    Once the user U has been authenticated by the server S, the user U can carry out the storage of new electronic data encrypted and/or signed by means of the signature and/or encryption keys stored on the smart card CP B , and/or the modification, consultation or deletion of data already stored in the safe CF U  (step  22   B ). 
         [0060]    Irrespective of the smart card CP UA  or CP UB  previously used for storing data in the safe CF U , the user can decrypt these data by accessing the safe by means of the smart card CP UA  as well as by means of the smart card CP UB . 
         [0061]    The authentication data to be provided by the user to the server S which will allow access to the safe CF U  are therefore a function of the portal by which he is accessing, and the smart card used. 
         [0062]    The smart card to be used is a smart card associated to the portal and the user authentication data, which are contained in this smartcard, are proper to this portal and cannot be used to access the safe via another portal. 
         [0063]    In other words, before carrying out authentication of the user using the authentication data it receives, the server S identifies the entity (i.e. the portal) by means of which the user is requesting access to a safe CF U , and then determines, according to the entity identified, the authentication data by means of which this authentication must be performed. 
         [0064]    According to the examples described above, the server verifies the signature of the random number received from the smart card using the public authentication key of the user U which is associated with the entity identified. In the event of successful authentication, that is to say if the server finds after decryption the random number initially transmitted to the terminal T, the user U has been correctly authenticated and the server S authorises access to the safe CF U . 
         [0065]    Consequently, if the user requests access to the safe CF U  via the portal of the company A and uses the smart card CP UB , access will be refused, and vice versa. 
         [0066]    In the embodiment described with reference to the figures, the invention is implemented by considering access to one and the same safe by means of two distinct entities, represented by the servers P A  and P B . The invention can of course be implemented with a number of entities greater than two. 
         [0067]    All or some of the steps implemented by the terminal T are performed in one embodiment following execution of computer program instructions on calculation means of the terminal T. In the embodiment described with reference to the figures, the terminal delegates signing and encryption/decryption operations to the smart card by means of the smart card reader of the terminal. 
         [0068]    Similarly, all or some of the steps implemented by the server S are performed in one embodiment following execution of computer program instructions on calculation means of the server S. 
         [0069]    When the company A wishes to stop the electronic safe supply service for the user U, it requests, from the trusted authority concerned, revocation of the authentication certificate CAUT UA  dedicated to the user U. The individual then has access to his safe CF U  only via the portal of the company B, using the smart card CP UB . 
         [0070]    The invention makes it possible to simplify the management of access to the safe of users. The latter can access one and the same safe and make use of the data stored therein using respective smart cards, provided by different companies or administrations offering them this service, and each configured with authentication data specific to them.