Method and apparatus for providing a multi-user encrypted environment

• US 20070022286A1
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Laniste Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Laniste Incorporated
• Inventors: Makni, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US11/185,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20070022286A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/163
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/60 Router architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0833 involving conference or group key network architectures or network communication protocols for key management in group communication in a packet data network H04L63/065
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for providing a multi-user encrypted environment to each of a plurality of user groups. Each user group has a plurality of corresponding users. The system comprises a plurality of virtual network interface cards, each for authenticating and communicating according to a corresponding encryption scheme. The system further comprises a user group database associating each of the plurality of virtual network interface cards to a given user. The system also comprises a routing unit connected to the plurality of virtual network interface cards and to the user group database for dynamically associating a given user of a given user group to a corresponding virtual network interface card according to the user group database to thereby provide the corresponding encrypted environment.

Claims

1. A system for providing a multi-user encrypted environment to each of a plurality of user groups, each user group having a plurality of corresponding users, said system comprising:

a plurality of virtual network interface cards, each for authenticating and communicating according to a corresponding encryption scheme;

a user group database associating each of the plurality of virtual network interface cards to a given user group; and

a routing unit connected to said plurality of virtual network interface cards and to said user group database for dynamically associating a given user of a given user group to a corresponding virtual network interface card according to said user group database to thereby provide said corresponding encrypted environment.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a virtual network interface card management unit for managing each of said plurality of virtual network interface card.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of virtual network interface cards comprises an authentication unit for authenticating and a corresponding communication unit for communicating according to a corresponding encryption scheme.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising an authentication unit management unit for managing each of said authentication units.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a communication unit management unit for managing each of said communication units.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of virtual network interface cards comprises an authentication unit for authenticating and at least two corresponding communication units each for communicating according to a corresponding encryption scheme.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising an authentication unit management unit for managing each of said authentication units.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a communication unit management unit for managing each of said communication units.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of virtual network interface cards comprises at least two authentication units each for authenticating and a corresponding communication unit for communicating according to a corresponding encryption scheme.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising an authentication unit management unit for managing each of said authentication units.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a communication unit management unit for managing each of said communication units.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said encryption scheme comprises a Virtual Private Network (VPN) scheme.

13. A method for providing a multi-user encrypted environment to each of a plurality of user groups, each user group having a plurality of corresponding users, said method comprising:

creating a plurality of virtual network interface cards each for a user group, each for authenticating and communicating according to a corresponding encryption scheme; and

creating a routing system connected to said created plurality of virtual network interface cards for dynamically associating a given user of a given user group to a corresponding virtual network interface card to thereby provide said corresponding encrypted environment.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said creating of said plurality of virtual network interface cards comprises creating a plurality of authentication units for authenticating and a corresponding plurality of communication units for communicating according to a corresponding encryption scheme.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said creating of said routing system comprises creating a user group database comprising an entry for each user group and its corresponding virtual network interface card and creating a routing unit connected to said user group database for dynamically associating a given user of a given user group to a corresponding virtual network interface.

16. A method for using a multi-user encrypted environment created according to the method as claimed in any one of claim 13.

17. A method of doing business wherein the using of a multi-user encrypted environment created according to the method as claimed in any one of claim 13 is done for a fee.

18. A computer readable memory adapted to store instructions which when executed create the multi-user encrypted environment claimed in any one of claim 13.