Cryptography – Key management – Key distribution
Patent
1998-10-20
2000-03-14
Barron, Jr., Gilberto
Cryptography
Key management
Key distribution
380281, 380282, 713155, 713156, 713163, H04L 908, H04L 930, H04L 932, H04K 102
Patent
active
060383224
ABSTRACT:
A method for distributing a secret key from a key holder H to intended group members M. The method assumes that during the distribution process each party, a group member M and the key holder H, can decrypt and encrypt exchanged information such that the encrypter knows that the decrypter will be the intended party. The method preferably uses a public key/private key encryption technique in which, for example, a trusted Certificate Authority in a public key infrastructure signs the certificates to provide the public keys involved in the encryption. Alternatively, the method, together with a symmetric cipher, uses a shared secret, established in an authenticated mechanism that is outside the information exchanges of the invention. Additionally, the method uses a strong mixing function that takes several items of data as input and produces a pseudo-random authentication (or digest). Inputs to the mixing function include identity stamps that are generated by each member M and key holder H. These inputs can be the identity of the stamp generator, such as a network address, port, or protocol, a timestamp, and/or a secret value that is known only to the stamp generator. The stamps include information to bind member M if generated by key holder H, and to bind key holder H if generated by member M. Consequently, the invention authenticates each communication exchange between member M and key holder H.
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Zheng, Y. and Imai, H., "Compact and Unforgeable Key Establishment over an ATM Network," in INFOCOM '98. 17th Conf. IEEE Computer and Communications Societies, Apr. 2, 1998, pp. 411-418.
H. Harney et al., "Group Key Management Protocol (GKMP) Specification," Jul. 1997, http://info.internet.isi.edu/in-notes/rfc/files/rfc2093.txt, pp. 1-18.
H. Harney et al., "Group Key Management Protocol (GKMP) Architecture," Jul. 1997, http://info.internet.isi. edu/in-notes/rfc/files/rfc2094.txt, pp. 1-17.
Barron Jr. Gilberto
Cisco Technology Inc.
Darrow Justin T.
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