METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZING AN ADAPTABLE SECURITY LEVEL IN AN ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

• US 20160127385A1
• Filed: 01/08/2016
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Certicom Corporation (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Struik, Marinus
• Granted Patent: US 9,774,609 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet 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 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/162 at the data link layer

Abstract

A method of communicating in a secure communication system, comprises the steps of assembling as message at a sender, then determining a security level, and including an indication of the security level in a header of the message. The message is then sent to a recipient.

Claims

1. A method of communicating in a secure communication system, comprising the steps of:

a) assembling as message at a sender;

b) determining a security level;

c) including an indication of the security level in a header of the message;

d) sending the message to a recipient.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the security level is chosen to be at least a minimum security level known to the sender and the recipient.

3. A method of communicating in a secure communication system, wherein each communication is divided into a plurality of frames, and each frame includes an indication of a security level, thereby allowing each frame to have a different security level to adapt to the nature of each frame.

4. A method of providing a security level to a sender by including information in an acknowledgement message.