Enhanced cryptographic system and method with key escrow feature
US5841865A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 11, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 24, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 11, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F7/725
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention provides a cryptographic system and method with a key escrow feature that uses a method for verifiably splitting users' private keys into components and for sending those components to trusted agents chosen by the particular users, and provides a system that uses a modern public key certificate management, enforced by a chip device that also self-certifies. A preferred embodiment of this invention provides a method for generating verifiably trusted communications among a plurality of users, comprising the steps of escrowing at a trusted escrow center a plurality of asymmetric cryptographic keys to be used by a plurality of users; verifying each of said plurality of keys at the escrow center; certifying the authorization of each of said plurality of keys upon verification; and initiating a communication from each of said plurality of users using a respective one of said plurality of keys contingent upon certification. Further preferred embodiments provide for rekeying and upgrading of device firmware using a certificate system, and encryption of stream-oriented data.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.