Generation of cryptographic signatures using hash keys
First Claim
1. A method for generating a digital signature that authenticates information of a plurality of different information groups, comprising the steps of:
- hashing information from each of said groups to produce a separate hash key for each group, each hash key authenticating the information in its respective group;
hashing combinations of said hash keys together to produce at least one combined hash key; and
deriving said digital signature from said at least one combined hash key;
wherein said digital signature is independently reproducible from (i) a hash key derived from the authenticated information of one of said groups and (ii) a set of hash keys and combined hash key(s) already produced by said hashing steps for other of said groups, without requiring the authenticated information from all of said groups.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for generating a digital signature that authenticates information of a plurality of different information groups. Information from each group is hashed to produce a separate hash key for each group authenticating the information in that group. Particular combinations of the hash keys are hashed together to produce at least one combined hash key. Each of the hash keys is ultimately combined in a predetermined order with all other hash keys via the combined hash keys to produce the digital signature in a manner that authenticates the information of all of the information groups. The digital signature is reproducible without access to all of the information groups authenticated thereby. Instead, information from a first information group is provided together with a set of hash keys and combined hash keys embodying authenticated information from the other groups. The hash key for the first information group is produced locally and combined with the other hash keys and/or combined hash keys in order to reproduce the digital signature.
84 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for generating a digital signature that authenticates information of a plurality of different information groups, comprising the steps of:
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hashing information from each of said groups to produce a separate hash key for each group, each hash key authenticating the information in its respective group; hashing combinations of said hash keys together to produce at least one combined hash key; and deriving said digital signature from said at least one combined hash key; wherein said digital signature is independently reproducible from (i) a hash key derived from the authenticated information of one of said groups and (ii) a set of hash keys and combined hash key(s) already produced by said hashing steps for other of said groups, without requiring the authenticated information from all of said groups. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. Receiver apparatus for recovering a digital signature that authenticates information from a plurality of information groups, without requiring the authenticated information from all of said information groups, said apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving the information from at least one of said information groups; means for hashing the received information to internally generate at least one first hash key; means for receiving at least one externally produced additional hash key used to authenticate information from at least one of said information groups that is not received by said apparatus; and means for cryptographically combining said at least one first hash key with said at least one additional hash key according to a sequence from which said digital signature was produced; said combining means producing said digital resignature. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. Receiver apparatus for recovering a previously produced digital signature from a plurality of hash keys, said apparatus comprising:
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means for internally generating at least one first hash key from authenticated information intended to be received by said receiver; means for receiving at least one externally produced additional hash key derived from other authenticated information not intended to be received by said receiver; and means for cryptographically combining said at least one first hash key with said at least one additional hash key according to a sequence from which said digital signature was previously produced; said combining means recovering said digital signature without requiring reception of said other authenticated information.
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Specification