×

System and method for providing identity hiding in a shared key authentication protocol

  • US 7,752,444 B2
  • Filed: 12/21/2005
  • Issued: 07/06/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A method of hiding an initiator'"'"'s identity (ID) in a shared key authentication protocol, the method comprising the steps of:

  • applying, by an initiator, a function which cannot be readily inverted to the initiator'"'"'s ID to produce a Hint of the ID, the Hint of the ID enabling a receiver to identify a subset of possible shared keys from a plurality of known shared keys, the subset containing fewer than all of the known shared keys;

    transmitting the Hint of the ID and a Message Authentication Code (MAC) created from a message using a shared key associated with the initiator;

    receiving the Hint of the ID and the MAC by the receiver;

    using, by the receiver, the Hint of the ID to determine the subset of possible shared keys;

    creating, by the receiver, MACs of the message using shared keys within the subset of possible shared keys to look for a shared key that will produce a MAC of the message that matches the MAC of the message transmitted by the initiator; and

    upon producing a MAC of the message from one of the shared keys that matches the MAC of the message transmitted by the initiator, determining therefrom the identity of the initiator.

View all claims
  • 3 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×