Patent · US Expired

Secure maintenance messaging in a digital communications network

US6880088B1 · kind B1 · utility

25Cited by
5References
52Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 19, 1999
Grant dateApr 12, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 19, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L41/28
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In an apparatus and method for performing secure messaging in a digital communications network, a module sends a registration message including an initial challenge and an identification of itself to the server. In response, the server sends a message, including a response to the module's challenge and a challenge to the module from the server, to the module based on the value and service of the initial challenge. The module uses the validity of the server's response to determine whether a transmitted message is authentic. A valid response corresponds to an authentic message. Alternatively, a server may initiate communications with a module. Once the initial communication is established, messaging typically continues for all transactions between the server and the module for one or more classes of transactions. The authentication process is repeated for each message.

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