Patent · US Expired

Synchronization of cryptographic keys between two modules of a distributed system

US6064989A · kind A · utility

26Cited by
21References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 29, 1997
Grant dateMay 16, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 29, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07B2017/0087
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The apparatus comprises: a first module including a universal key; a second module including a unique identifier and a unique key wherein the unique key is derived from the unique identifier and the universal key and incorporated into the second module during manufacture of the second module. The second module is in communication with the first module. The apparatus further comprises a controller for performing the following subsequent to manufacture of the first module and the second module: initiating a communication session between the first module and the second module; transmitting the unique identifier from the second module to the first module; and deriving the unique key in the first module using the unique identifier and the universal key. A method for synchronization of cryptographic keys between modules of a distributed system and a method of manufacturing a postage evidencing system are also provided.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.