Hybrid public key algorithm/data encryption algorithm key distribution method based on control vectors
US5142578A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 22, 1991 |
| Grant date | Aug 25, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 22, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L9/14
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The patent describes a method and apparatus for securely distributing an initial Data Encryption Algorithm (DEA) key-encrypting key by encrypting a key record (consisting of the key-encrypting key and control information associated with that key-encrypting key) using a public key algorithm and a public key belonging to the intended recipient of the key record. The patent further describes a method and apparatus for securely recovering the distributed key-encrypting key by the recipient by decrypting the received key record using the same public key algorithm and private key associated with the public key and re-encrypting the key-encrypting key under a key formed by arithmetically combining the recipient's master key with a control vector contained in the control information of the received key record. Thus the type and usage attributes assigned by the originator of the key-encrypting key in the form of a control vector are cryptographically coupled to the key-encrypting key such that the recipient may only use the received key-encrypting key in a manner defined by the key originator. The patent further describes a method and apparatus to improve the integrity of the key distributi…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.