Systems and methods for blockchain-based secure key exchange

US11849032B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc. · US

Inventors

• John M. Stokes · Yorba Linda, US
• Manuel Enrique Caceres · Berkeley Heights, US
• Young Rak Choi · Montgomery, US
• Warren Hojilla Uy · Youngstown, US
• Mun Wei Low · Irving, US
• Dayong He · Bound Brook, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 14, 2021
• Grant date: Dec 19, 2023
• Expiry date: Dec 21, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04L9/50
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A system described herein provide for the secure maintaining and providing of information, such as public keys used in Public Key Infrastructure (“PKI”) techniques or other techniques, using a secure distributed ledger (e.g., “blockchain”) system. A blockchain system may be utilized in lieu of a key escrow system in the exchange and/or providing of public keys in a Diffie-Hellman key exchange technique or other type of technique in which public keys are provided from one entity to another. A first entity may generate an asymmetric key pair that includes a public key and a private key, and may provide the public key to a blockchain system for retrieval by one or more other entities. For example, the entities may be engaged in a secure messaging session, in which messages are encrypted and may be decrypted using one or more keys, including the public key.