This class identifies algorithms, such as cryptographic transforms, each of which may be associated with parameters. Instances of this base class are used when this runtime environment has no special knowledge of the algorithm type, and may also be used in other cases. Equivalence is defined according to OID and (where relevant) parameters.
Subclasses may be used, for example when when the algorithm ID has associated parameters which some code (e.g. code using public keys) needs to have parsed. Two examples of such algorithms are Diffie-Hellman key exchange, and the Digital Signature Standard Algorithm (DSS/DSA).
The OID constants defined in this class correspond to some widely used algorithms, for which conventional string names have been defined. This class is not a general repository for OIDs, or for such string names. Note that the mappings between algorithm IDs and algorithm names is not one-to-one.
@author David Brownell
@author Amit Kapoor
@author Hemma Prafullchandra