Technique for split knowledge backup and recovery of a cryptographic key
US7916871B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 21, 2007 |
| Grant date | Mar 29, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 28, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L9/085
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In a secure cryptographic environment, a private key in a private/public key cryptographic scheme needs to be backed up and recovered in case of a loss or corruption of the private key. To back up the private key, multiple key segments are generated based on the private key which are distributed to a corresponding number of trusted individuals, each of whom has knowledge of only his or her key segment. The key can be restored only when all of the trusted individuals provide the respective key segments, based on which the original private key is reconstructed. In addition, each trusted individual is uniquely identifiable by a personal identification number. Advantageously, the private key which is secret can be backed up and restored without any individual having knowledge of the full key.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.