System and method for protecting a multipurpose data string used for both decrypting data and for authenticating a user
US6230272A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 14, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 8, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 14, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2211/008
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for protecting a multipurpose data string used for both decrypting data and for authenticating a user utilizes a remote storage element that contains a long random data string or password protected by a short easy to remember access data, such as a personal identification number or other user authentication mechanism. The remote storage element contains data used for both initially encrypting secret private keys and for later decrypting the encrypted secret private keys, or other secret data, so they can be used to decrypt data transferred within a computer network, or be used for digitally signing data transferred within a computer network.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.