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Management of cryptographic keys

  • US 4,912,762 A
  • Filed: 04/18/1988
  • Issued: 03/27/1990
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1987
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of encoding messages in a communication network in which a first set of nodes transmits and receives messages to and from a second set of nodes, each of the nodes in each set having an identification code unique, the method including the steps of:

  • deriving a first common cryptographic key for said first set and a second common cryptographic key for said second set;

    storing, at each node of the first set of nodes, said first key common to the first set of nodes and a first value derived from the encryption of said second key common to the second set of nodes with a node identification code;

    storing, at each node of the second set of nodes, said second key common to the second set of nodes and a second value derived from the encryption of said first key common to the first set of nodes with a node identification code;

    and whenever a sender node of said first set has a message to transmit to a destination node of said second set;

    deriving a message encryption key from a combination of the destination node identification code encrypted by said first set common key and said first derived value;

    transmitting to the destination node the sending node'"'"'s identification code and the message encrypted under the derived message encryption key;

    and at the destination node;

    deriving said message encryption key from a combination of the sending node'"'"'s identification code encrypted by said second set common key and said second derived value; and

    decoding the message.

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