UTILIZATION APPARATUS, SERVICER APPARATUS, SERVICE UTILIZATION SYSTEM, SERVICE UTILIZATION METHOD, SERVICE UTILIZATION PROGRAM, AND INTEGRATED CIRCUIT

• US 20090316909A1
• Filed: 06/03/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Futa, Yuichi, Yokota, Kaoru, Sato, Taichi, Matsuzaki, Natsume, Nonaka, Masao, Inoue, Tetsuya
• Application Number:
  US12/132,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20090316909A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/279
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/083 involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0891 Revocation or update of secret information, e.g. encryption key update or rekeying
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3268 using certificate validation, registration, distribution or revocation, e.g. certificate revocation list [CRL]

Abstract

Provided are a utilization apparatus, a server apparatus, and a key utilization system which enable the utilization apparatus to control deletion of the old key without using a secure clock and allow encrypted communications irrespective of whether the accessed server has updated its key or not. In key utilization system 1, one or more server apparatuses 5-1 to 5-n each provide service to an apparatus having an apparatus key corresponding with a server key. Update apparatus 2 distributes an update server key to each server apparatus and a new apparatus key to key utilization apparatus 3. CRL distribution apparatus 4 distributes to key utilization apparatus 3 a CRL indicating one or more server apparatuses which have completed key-updating. Key utilization apparatus 3 holds both the old and new apparatus key, judges whether the server apparatuses monitored using the CRL have completed key-updating, and if affirmative, deletes the old apparatus key.

Claims

1. A utilization apparatus which receives service from one or more server apparatuses, each providing service in response to a request made with use of an apparatus key that corresponds with a server key, the utilization apparatus comprising:

a key storage unit storing an old apparatus key and a new apparatus key;

an acquisition unit operable to acquire update completion information indicating one or more server apparatuses, each of which has completed key-updating by updating an old server key corresponding with the old apparatus key to a new server key corresponding with the new apparatus key;

a judgement unit operable to make, with use of the update completion information, a comprehensive judgement on key-updating with respect to a group of at least one server apparatus, from which the utilization apparatus receives service;

a deletion unit operable to, if a result of the comprehensive judgement indicates that the group has completed the key-updating, delete the old apparatus key; and

a utilization unit operable to, if the result of the comprehensive judgement indicates that the group has completed the key-updating, receive service from, among the group, a server apparatus which has updated the old server key to the new server key, with use of the new apparatus key.

2. The utilization apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the update completion information includes identifiers of the one or more server apparatuses each of which has updated the old server key to the new server key, and

the judgement unit (i) holds monitoring target information which includes identifiers of one or more server apparatuses monitored for key-updating and (ii) makes the comprehensive judgement using the identifiers included in the monitoring target information and the identifiers included in the update completion information.

3. The utilization apparatus of claim 2, wherein

the judgement unit makes the comprehensive judgement that the group has completed the key-updating when a ratio of (a) a number of identifiers which are included in both the update completion information and the monitoring target information to (b) a number of the identifiers included in the monitoring target information is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio.

4. The utilization apparatus of claim 2, wherein

the judgement unit includes:

a registration subunit operable to, when the utilization apparatus accesses a server apparatus, (i) make a determination whether or not an identifier of the accessed server apparatus is included in the monitoring target information, and (ii) if the determination is negative, add the identifier of the accessed server apparatus to the monitoring target information;

a deletion subunit operable to read the monitoring target information and delete, among the identifiers included in the monitoring target information, identifiers of server apparatuses which are less likely to be accessed by the utilization apparatus; and

a judgement subunit operable to make the comprehensive judgement using the identifiers included in the monitoring target information and the identifiers included in the update completion information.

5. The utilization apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the utilization unit, if the result of the comprehensive judgement indicates that the group has not completed the key-updating, receives designation of an apparatus key in accordance with a server key held by a server apparatus of the group, and utilizes the designated apparatus key.

6. A service utilization system comprising one or more server apparatuses, an updating apparatus, and a utilization apparatus, each of the server apparatuses providing service in response to a request made with use of an apparatus key that corresponds with a server key, the updating apparatus distributing an update server key to each server apparatus, and the utilization apparatus receiving service using an apparatus key and a distribution apparatus which distributes update completion information indicating at least one server apparatus that has completed key-updating, wherein each of the server apparatuses includes:

a holding unit operable to hold an old server key;

a key receiving unit operable to receive a transmission of a new server key;

a key updating unit operable to perform the key-updating by replacing the old server key with the new server key; and

a service providing unit operable to provide service, with use of the updated key held by the holding unit, to the utilization apparatus,

the updating apparatus includes;

a generating unit operable to generate, for each of the server apparatuses, a new server key which corresponds with the new apparatus key; and

a key transmitting unit operable to transmit the new server key to each of the server apparatuses;

the distribution apparatus includes;

a collection unit operable to collect information on the at least one server apparatus which has completed the key-updating; and

a distribution unit operable to generate the update completion information and distribute the generated update completion information to the utilization apparatus,

the utilization apparatus includes;

a key storage unit storing an old apparatus key and a new apparatus key;

an acquisition unit operable to acquire the update completion information;

a judgement unit operable to make, with use of the update completion information, a comprehensive judgement on key-updating with respect to a group of at least one server apparatus, from which the utilization apparatus receives service;

a deletion unit operable to, if the result of the comprehensive judgement indicates that the group has completed the key-updating, delete the old apparatus key; and

a utilization unit operable to, if the result of the comprehensive judgement indicates that the group has completed the key-updating, receive service from, among the group, a server apparatus which has updated the old server key to the new server key, with use of the new apparatus key.

7. A service utilization method used for receiving service from one or more server apparatuses, each providing service in response to a request made with use of an apparatus key that corresponds with a server key, the utilization method comprising:

a key storing step of storing an old apparatus key and a new apparatus key;

an acquiring step of acquiring update completion information indicating one or more server apparatuses, each of which has completed key-updating by updating an old server key corresponding with the old apparatus key to a new server key corresponding with the new apparatus key;

a judging step of making, with use of the update completion information, a comprehensive judgement on key-updating with respect to a group of at least one server apparatus, which provides service;

a deleting step of deleting, if a result of the comprehensive judgement indicates that the group has completed the key-updating, the old apparatus key; and

a utilizing step of receiving, if the result of the comprehensive judgement indicates that the group has completed the key-updating, service from, among the group, a server apparatus which has updated the old server key to the new server key, with use of the new apparatus key.

8. A service utilization program used for receiving service from one or more server apparatuses, each providing service in response to a request made with use of an apparatus key that corresponds with a server key, the utilization program comprising:

a key storing step of storing an old apparatus key and a new apparatus key;

an acquiring step of acquiring update completion information indicating one or more server apparatuses, each of which has completed key-updating by updating an old server key corresponding with the old apparatus key to a new server key corresponding with the new apparatus key;

a judging step of making, with use of the update completion information, a comprehensive judgement on key-updating with respect to a group of at least one server apparatus, which provides service;

a deleting step of deleting, if a result of the comprehensive judgement indicates that the group has completed the key-updating, the old apparatus key; and

a utilizing step of receiving, if the result of the comprehensive judgement indicates that the group has completed the key-updating, service from, among the group, a server apparatus which has updated the old server key to the new server key, with use of the new apparatus key.

9. An integrated circuit used by a utilization apparatus which receives service from one or more server apparatuses, each providing service in response to a request made with use of an apparatus key that corresponds with a server key, the utilization apparatus comprising:

a key storage unit storing an old apparatus key and a new apparatus key;

an acquisition unit operable to acquire update completion information indicating one or more server apparatuses, each of which has completed key-updating by updating an old server key corresponding with the old apparatus key to a new server key corresponding with the new apparatus key;

a judgement unit operable to make, with use of the update completion information, a comprehensive judgement on key-updating with respect to a group of at least one server apparatus, from which the utilization apparatus receives service;

a deletion unit operable to, if a result of the comprehensive judgement indicates that the group has completed the key-updating, delete the old apparatus key; and

a utilization unit operable to, if the result of the comprehensive judgement indicates that the group has completed the key-updating, receive service from, among the group, a server apparatus which has updated the old server key to the new server key, with use of the new apparatus key.