Patent ID: 7707405

Claim:
A method for providing credentials to a computational component in a distributed processing network, comprising: generating a plurality of crypto-tokens, each crypto-token comprising a unique identifier and a public/private key pair and being configured for operative engagement with a selected computational component, whereby the selected computational component and a selected crypto-token can electrically communicate with one another; receiving a unique identifier for the selected crypto-token; and based on (i) a digital certificate comprising the public key and unique identifier and (ii) the private key in the selected crypto-token, establishing a secured communication session with the selected computational component to which the selected crypto-token is engaged, wherein any of the plurality of crypto-tokens are interchangeable such that any of the crypto-tokens may be engaged with the selected computational component to effect the establishing step, wherein, in the generating step, each crypto-token is not associated with a specific computational component and/or user, and wherein the unique identifier is received out-of-band from the digital certificate.