Method of securing a cryptographic key
US6052468A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 15, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 18, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 15, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L9/3231
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method is disclosed for improving portability of secure encryption key data files. The method provides for re-securing key data files according to different security processes for mobility. For porting an encryption key secured using a fingerprint authentication process to a system having only a password authentication process, a user selects password authentication process, provides a fingerprint and is authorised, provides a new password and then the encryption key is accessed according to the fingerprint authentication process and secured according to the password authentication process. This allows the use of specialised security hardware at one location while retaining an ability to transport encryption keys in a secure fashion to other locations, which do not have similar security hardware.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.