System and method for initial key establishment using a split knowledge protocol
US8245050B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 2006 |
| Grant date | Aug 14, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 2, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L67/1097
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A split knowledge protocol adapted to establish an initial key for use in authenticating a first computer to a second computer. The second computer initiates the split knowledge protocol by generating a bit sequence and splitting the sequence into a predetermined number of segments. The second computer then encrypts each segment with a predetermined key associated with each segment before transmitting each encrypted segment to the first computer. In response, the first computer decrypts each encrypted segment using the associated key. The first computer then recovers the bit sequence from the decrypted segments. Accordingly, the first and second computers have knowledge of (i.e., access to) the same bit sequence, which may thus be used as the initial key.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.