Traffic key access method and terminal for secure communication without key escrow facility
US6370251B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 8, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 8, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L9/0897
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Key escrow is achieved without a key escrow facility. An escrow key pair is generated and stored in the terminal. A key escrow field that includes a traffic key encrypted with the escrow key is provided before encrypted traffic is communicated. When access to the traffic key is authorized, the escrow key is extracted from the terminal and used to decrypt the traffic key. The private portion of the escrow key is covered in the terminal with an escrow key access number. The escrow key access number is preferably generated by the terminal manufacturer with a secret algorithm using the terminal serial number. Alternatively, the escrow key is stored within a user token, rather than the terminal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.