Secure interface for versatile key derivation function support
US8335317B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 2005 |
| Grant date | Dec 18, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 20, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L9/0841
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Improper re-use of a static Diffie-Hellman (DH) private key may leak information about the key. The leakage is prevented by a key derivation function (KDF), but standards do not agree on key derivation functions. The module for performing a DH private key operation must somehow support multiple different KDF standards. The present invention provides an intermediate approach that neither attempts to implement all possible KDF operations, nor provide unprotected access to the raw DH private key operation. Instead, the module performs parts of the KDF operation, as indicated by the application using the module. This saves the module from implementing the entire KDF for each KDF needed. Instead, the module implements only re-usable parts that are common to most KDFs. Furthermore, when new KDFs are required, the module may be able to support them if they built on the parts that the module has implemented.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.