Ciphertext based quorum cryptosystem
US11212082B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 2019 |
| Grant date | Dec 28, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 9, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L9/3093
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods are described for constructing a secret key by multiple participants from multiple ciphertexts such that any quorum combination of participants can decrypt their respective ciphertexts and so generate a fixed number of key fragments that can be combined by a recipient to generate the secret key. Worked examples are described showing how the encryption keys for the ciphertexts may be key wrapped using a key encapsulation mechanism for which ciphers that are resistant to attack by a quantum computer may be used. In these cases, a post-quantum quorum system is realised. Methods are described by which the quorum key fragment ciphertexts may be updated so that the original key fragments become invalid without necessitating any change to the secret key.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.