Methods of issuing a credit for a certificate for a domain name

Abstract

The invention provides methods for efficiently registering a domain name and issuing a certificate without a Subscriber submitting a separate request for the certificate. A notice may be provided to the Subscriber after requesting to register the domain name that a credit for a certificate may be issued for the domain name. In other embodiments a credit may be given to the Subscriber for the certificate without receiving a separate request for the credit or certificate. The credit may be saved in a Subscriber's account to enable the Subscriber to use a certificate at a later time. In yet other embodiments, a single vetting process may be used to facilitate one or more of: creating a Subscriber's account; registering a domain name; and issuing a certificate.

1 . A method comprising the steps of:
 A) generating, by one or more server computers communicatively coupled to a network, an account for a user;   B) registering to said user, by said one or more server computers, one or more domain names; and   C) storing, by said one or more server computers, a credit for an electronic security certificate covering said one or more domain names, said credit being stored in said account without a request from said user for: (1) said credit; or (2) said electronic security certificate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said credit is stored in said account responsive to said one or more server computers receiving from said user a request to register said one or more domain names. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 D) receiving, by said one or more server computers, a request to install said electronic security certificate on a website, said website resolving from said one or more domain names; and   E) without further communication from said user, said one or more server computers:
 i) generating a certificate signing request; 
 ii) transmitting said certificate signing request to a certificate authority; 
 iii) receiving said electronic security certificate from said certificate authority, said electronic security certificate having been signed and issued by said certificate authority; and 
 iv) installing, on said website, said electronic security certificate. 
   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, prior to said registering step B), said one or more server computers receive from said user a plurality of domain name registration information, wherein said plurality of domain name registration information is used to verify the identity of said user to issue said electronic security certificate. 
     
     
         5 . A method comprising the steps of:
 A) registering to a user, by one or more server computers communicatively coupled to a network, one or more domain names;   B) transmitting, by said one or more server computers, to a client computer communicatively coupled to said network, an electronic communication comprising a notification that said user may obtain an electronic security certificate covering said one or more domain names;   C) receiving, by said one or more server computers, a request to obtain said electronic security certificate; and   D) without further communication from said user, said one or more server computers:
 i) generating a certificate signing request; 
 ii) transmitting said certificate signing request to a certificate authority; and 
 iii) receiving said electronic security certificate from said certificate authority, said electronic security certificate having been signed and issued by said certificate authority. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said electronic security certificate is issued after a website is created, said website resolving from said one or more domain names. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein, prior to said registering step A), said one or more server computers receive from said user a request to register said one or more domain names. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said request to register said one or more domain names includes said request to obtain said electronic security certificate. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein step D) further comprises the steps of:
 iv) generating an account for said user; and   v) saving said electronic security certificate in said account.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein step D) further comprises the steps of:
 vi) receiving a request to install said electronic security certificate on a website, said website resolving from said one or more domain names; and   vii) installing, on said website, said electronic security certificate.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein, prior to said registering step A), said one or more server computers receive from said user a plurality of domain name registration information, and wherein said plurality of domain name registration information is used to verify the identity of said user to issue said electronic security certificate. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising the steps of:
 A) verifying, by one or more server computers communicatively coupled to a network, an identity and a reputation of a user; and   B) responsive to a verification by said one or more server computers of said identity and said reputation of said user:
 i) generating, by said one or more server computers, an account for said user; 
 ii) registering to said user, by said one or more server computers, one or more domain names; and 
 iii) storing, by said one or more server computers, a credit for an electronic security certificate covering said one or more domain names, said credit being stored in said account without a request from said user for said credit or said electronic security certificate. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein, prior to said registering step B) ii), said one or more server computers receive from said user a request to register said one or more domain names. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said credit is stored in said account responsive to said request to register said one or more domain names. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein step B) further comprises the steps of:
 iv) receiving, by said one or more server computers, a request to install said electronic security certificate on a website, said website resolving from said one or more domain names; and   v) without further communication from said user, said one or more server computers:
 a) generating a certificate signing request; 
 b) transmitting said certificate signing request to a certificate authority; 
 c) receiving said electronic security certificate from said certificate authority, said electronic security certificate having been signed and issued by said certificate authority; and 
 d) installing, on said website, said electronic security certificate. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein, prior to said registering step B) ii), said one or more server computers receive from said user a plurality of domain name registration information, and wherein said plurality of domain name registration information is used to verify the identity of said user to issue said electronic security certificate.