Method and system for secure cable modem initialization
US6070246A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 4, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 30, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 4, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/329
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for secure cable modem initialization in a data-over-cable system is provided using a secure protocol server. The method includes sending a unique identifier, such an Internet Protocol ("IP") address and a selected time-value, such as an approximate message send time-value, in a configuration file from a protocol server such as a Trivial File Protocol server ("TFTP"). A message integrity value is calculated using the unique identifier, the selected time-value and one or more configuration parameters in a pre-determined order with a cryptographic hashing function. The message integrity value is added to the configuration file. A cable modem receives the configuration file from the TFTP server and uses the message integrity value to authenticate the configuration file and determine if the configuration file was sent within a pre-determined period of time (e.g., 5 seconds) from the TFTP server. If not, the configuration is discarded by the cable modem. The unique identifier and selected time-value uniquely identify the configuration file for the cable modem and help prevent a rouge user from intercepting a valid cable modem configuration file and using it at a late…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.