diff --git a/core/java/src/net/i2p/crypto/SigAlgo.java b/core/java/src/net/i2p/crypto/SigAlgo.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6229fe4ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/java/src/net/i2p/crypto/SigAlgo.java
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+package net.i2p.crypto;
+
+/**
+ * Base signature algorithm type
+ *
+ * @since 0.9.9
+ */
+public enum SigAlgo {
+
+    DSA("DSA"),
+    EC("EC"),
+    RSA("RSA")
+    ;
+
+    private final String name;
+
+    SigAlgo(String name) {
+        this.name = name;
+    }
+
+    public String getName() { return name; }
+}
diff --git a/core/java/src/net/i2p/crypto/SigType.java b/core/java/src/net/i2p/crypto/SigType.java
index ec0bcb8bb..3d2bcc4b2 100644
--- a/core/java/src/net/i2p/crypto/SigType.java
+++ b/core/java/src/net/i2p/crypto/SigType.java
@@ -26,27 +26,28 @@ public enum SigType {
      *  Pubkey 128 bytes; privkey 20 bytes; hash 20 bytes; sig 40 bytes
      *  @since 0.9.8
      */
-    DSA_SHA1(0, 128, 20, 20, 40, "SHA-1", "SHA1withDSA", CryptoConstants.DSA_SHA1_SPEC),
+    DSA_SHA1(0, 128, 20, 20, 40, SigAlgo.DSA, "SHA-1", "SHA1withDSA", CryptoConstants.DSA_SHA1_SPEC),
     /**  Pubkey 48 bytes; privkey 24 bytes; hash 20 bytes; sig 48 bytes */
-    ECDSA_SHA1_P192(1, 48, 24, 20, 48, "SHA-1", "SHA1withECDSA", ECConstants.P192_SPEC),
+    ECDSA_SHA1_P192(1, 48, 24, 20, 48, SigAlgo.EC, "SHA-1", "SHA1withECDSA", ECConstants.P192_SPEC),
     /**  Pubkey 64 bytes; privkey 32 bytes; hash 32 bytes; sig 64 bytes */
-    ECDSA_SHA256_P256(2, 64, 32, 32, 64, "SHA-256", "SHA256withECDSA", ECConstants.P256_SPEC),
+    ECDSA_SHA256_P256(2, 64, 32, 32, 64, SigAlgo.EC, "SHA-256", "SHA256withECDSA", ECConstants.P256_SPEC),
     /**  Pubkey 96 bytes; privkey 48 bytes; hash 48 bytes; sig 96 bytes */
-    ECDSA_SHA384_P384(3, 96, 48, 48, 96, "SHA-384", "SHA384withECDSA", ECConstants.P384_SPEC),
+    ECDSA_SHA384_P384(3, 96, 48, 48, 96, SigAlgo.EC, "SHA-384", "SHA384withECDSA", ECConstants.P384_SPEC),
     /**  Pubkey 132 bytes; privkey 66 bytes; hash 64 bytes; sig 132 bytes */
-    ECDSA_SHA512_P521(4, 132, 66, 64, 132, "SHA-512", "SHA512withECDSA", ECConstants.P521_SPEC),
+    ECDSA_SHA512_P521(4, 132, 66, 64, 132, SigAlgo.EC, "SHA-512", "SHA512withECDSA", ECConstants.P521_SPEC),
 
     // TESTING....................
 
-    ECDSA_SHA256_P192(5, 48, 24, 32, 48, "SHA-256", "SHA256withECDSA", ECConstants.P192_SPEC),
-    ECDSA_SHA256_P384(6, 96, 48, 32, 96, "SHA-256", "SHA256withECDSA", ECConstants.P384_SPEC),
-    ECDSA_SHA256_P521(7, 132, 66, 32, 132, "SHA-256", "SHA256withECDSA", ECConstants.P521_SPEC),
+    ECDSA_SHA256_P192(5, 48, 24, 32, 48, SigAlgo.EC, "SHA-256", "SHA256withECDSA", ECConstants.P192_SPEC),
+    ECDSA_SHA256_P384(6, 96, 48, 32, 96, SigAlgo.EC, "SHA-256", "SHA256withECDSA", ECConstants.P384_SPEC),
+    ECDSA_SHA256_P521(7, 132, 66, 32, 132, SigAlgo.EC, "SHA-256", "SHA256withECDSA", ECConstants.P521_SPEC),
 
-    ECDSA_SHA384_P256(8, 64, 32, 48, 64, "SHA-384", "SHA384withECDSA", ECConstants.P256_SPEC),
-    ECDSA_SHA384_P521(9, 132, 66, 48, 132, "SHA-384", "SHA384withECDSA", ECConstants.P521_SPEC),
+    ECDSA_SHA384_P256(8, 64, 32, 48, 64, SigAlgo.EC, "SHA-384", "SHA384withECDSA", ECConstants.P256_SPEC),
+    ECDSA_SHA384_P521(9, 132, 66, 48, 132, SigAlgo.EC, "SHA-384", "SHA384withECDSA", ECConstants.P521_SPEC),
+
+    ECDSA_SHA512_P256(10, 64, 32, 64, 64, SigAlgo.EC, "SHA-512", "SHA512withECDSA", ECConstants.P256_SPEC),
+    ECDSA_SHA512_P384(11, 96, 48, 64, 96, SigAlgo.EC, "SHA-512", "SHA512withECDSA", ECConstants.P384_SPEC),
 
-    ECDSA_SHA512_P256(10, 64, 32, 64, 64, "SHA-512", "SHA512withECDSA", ECConstants.P256_SPEC),
-    ECDSA_SHA512_P384(11, 96, 48, 64, 96, "SHA-512", "SHA512withECDSA", ECConstants.P384_SPEC),
 
     //MD5
     //ELGAMAL_SHA256
@@ -65,16 +66,18 @@ public enum SigType {
     ;   
 
     private final int code, pubkeyLen, privkeyLen, hashLen, sigLen;
+    private final SigAlgo base;
     private final String digestName, algoName;
     private final AlgorithmParameterSpec params;
 
-    SigType(int cod, int pubLen, int privLen, int hLen, int sLen,
+    SigType(int cod, int pubLen, int privLen, int hLen, int sLen, SigAlgo baseAlgo,
             String mdName, String aName, AlgorithmParameterSpec pSpec) {
         code = cod;
         pubkeyLen = pubLen;
         privkeyLen = privLen;
         hashLen = hLen;
         sigLen = sLen;
+        base = baseAlgo;
         digestName = mdName;
         algoName = aName;
         params = pSpec;
@@ -90,6 +93,8 @@ public enum SigType {
     public int getHashLen() { return hashLen; }
     /** the length of the signature, in bytes */
     public int getSigLen() { return sigLen; }
+    /** the standard base algorithm name used for the Java crypto factories */
+    public SigAlgo getBaseAlgorithm() { return base; }
     /** the standard name used for the Java crypto factories */
     public String getAlgorithmName() { return algoName; }
     /**