Approach for managing access to messages using encryption key management policies
US7333616B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 2002 |
| Grant date | Feb 19, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 8, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L9/0894
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Controlling access to disseminated messages includes implementing one or more key management policies that specify how various encryption keys are maintained and in particular, when encryption keys are made inaccessible. Deleting a particular key renders inaccessible all copies of messages, known or unknown, associated with the particular key, regardless of the location of the associated messages. A message may be directly associated with a deleted key. For example, a message may be directly associated with a deleted key by having been encrypted using the deleted key. A message may also be indirectly associated with a deleted key. For example, a message may be indirectly associated with a deleted key by being encrypted with a key that in turn was encrypted using the deleted key. Any number of levels are indirection are possible and either situation makes the message unrecoverable. The approach is applicable to any type of data in any format and the invention is not limited to any type of data or any type of data format. Examples of data include, but are not limited to, text data, voice data, graphics data and email. Although embodiments of the invention are described hereinafter in…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.