Method for the secure distribution of security modules

US6850912B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Francotyp-Postalia AG & Co. KG · DE

Inventor

• Gerrit Bleumer · Schildow, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 24, 2001
• Grant date: Feb 1, 2005
• Expiry date: Jun 25, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07B2017/00967
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In a method and a distribution system for the secure distribution of security modules, particularly for postage meter machines, for protecting against manipulation of security modules, only devices with security modules whose keys have not been comprised can be placed in operation by the customer under all circumstances, i.e. even when the cryptographic initialization at the production location has been comprehensively undermined. The generation and checking of markings, potentially in combination with certificates proceeds with a first marking of the shipping packaging of the security module ensuing at the manufacturing location after a first cryptographic initialization. The first marking is preferably a public key printed on a first label. A second marking ensues at the entry point remote from the manufacturing location upon registration of the packaging and enables an identification upon later registration of the device, triggered by the user located at the use location, before the loading of requested data into the postage meter machine.