Method and apparatus for fast crytographic key generation

• US 7,804,961 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Espelien, Magdalena, Mauro, Anthony Patrick II
• Primary Examiner(s): Lanier; Benjamin E
• Application Number:
  US10/029,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20020114470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,205 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 380/270
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0841 involving Diffie-Hellman or related key agreement protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0861 Generation of secret information including derivation or calculation of cryptographic keys or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0894 Escrow, recovery or storing of secret information, e.g. secret key escrow or cryptographic key storage

Abstract

A method and apparatus for fast generation of a cryptographic key. A processor within a wireless communication device generates a public key upon termination of wireless communication. When a user of the wireless communication device desires to initiate a secure communication subsequent to the previous communication, the public key that was generated upon termination of the previous communication is used to engage in secure communications with a second communication device.

Claims

1. A method for generation of a cryptographic key by a wireless communication device, comprising:

generating a first public key for encrypting a first wireless communication;

generating, after termination of the first wireless communication and prior to initiation of a second secure wireless communication of the wireless communication device with a desired communication device, a second public key for transmission to the desired communication device, wherein the second public key is independent of the first public key;

storing the second public key in a memory of the wireless communication device prior to initiation of the second secure wireless communication with the desired communication device;

initiating, in response to a user input, the second secure wireless communication of the wireless communication device with the desired communication device; and

transmitting the second public key to the desired communication device if the second public key is available in the memory.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the second public key has been stored prior to establishing the second wireless communication.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

generating a third public key to transmit to the desired communication device when it is determined that the second public key has not been stored.

2. A wireless communication device for generation of a cryptographic key, comprising:

means for generating a first public key for encrypting a first wireless communication;

means for generating, after termination of the first wireless communication and prior to initiation of a second secure wireless communication with a desired communication device, a second public key for transmission to the desired communication device, wherein the second public key is independent of the first public key;

means for storing the second public key in memory prior to initiation of the second secure wireless communication with the desired communication device;

means for initiating, in response to a user input, the second secure wireless communication with the desired communication device; and

means for transmitting the second public key to the desired communication device if the second public key is available in the memory.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 2, further comprising:

means for determining whether the second public key has been stored prior to establishing the second wireless communication.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 13, further comprising:

means for generating a third public key to transmit to the desired communication device when it is determined that the second public key has not been stored.

3. A wireless communication device for generation of a cryptographic key, comprising:

a processor for;

generating a first public key to encrypt a first wireless communication;

generating, after termination of the first wireless communication and prior to initiation of a second secure wireless communication with a desired communication device, a second public key for transmission to the desired communication device;

storing the second public key in memory prior to initiation of the second secure wireless communication with the desired communication device

initiating, in response to a user input, the second secure wireless communication with the desired communication device; and

transmitting the second public key to the desired communication device if the second public key is available in the memory;

the memory for storing the second public key,

wherein the second public key is independent of the first public key.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 3, wherein the processor determines whether the second public key has been stored prior to establishing the second wireless communication.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the processor generates a third public key to transmit to the desired communication device when it is determined that the second public key has not been stored.

4. A processor for generation of a cryptographic key, said processor being configured to:

generate a first public key for encrypting a first wireless communication;

generate, after termination of the first wireless communication and prior to initiation of a second secure wireless communication with a desired communication device, a second public key for transmission to the desired communication device, wherein the second public key is independent of the first public key;

store the second public key in memory prior to initiation of the second secure wireless communication with the desired communication device;

initiate, in response to a user input, the second secure wireless communication with the desired communication device; and

transmit the second public key to the desired communication device if the second public key is available in the memory.

8. The processor of claim 4, wherein said processor is further configured to:

determine whether the second public key has been stored prior to establishing the second wireless communication.

9. The processor of claim 8, wherein said processor is further configured to:

generate a third public key to transmit to the desired communication device when it is determined that the second public key has not been stored.

5. A memory comprising instructions for generation of a cryptographic key, wherein the instructions upon execution cause a computer to:

generate a first public key for encrypting a first wireless communication;

generate, after termination of the first wireless communication and prior to initiation of a second secure wireless communication with a desired communication device, a second public key for transmission to the desired communication device, wherein the second public key is independent of the first public key;

store the second public key in memory prior to initiation of the second secure wireless communication with the desired communication device;

initiate, in response to a user input, the second secure wireless communication with the desired communication device; and

transmit the second public key to the desired communication device if the second public key is available in the memory.

6. The memory of claim 5, wherein the instructions upon execution further cause a computer to:

determine whether the second public key has been stored prior to establishing the second wireless communication.

7. The memory of claim 6, wherein the instructions upon execution further cause a computer to:

generate a third public key to transmit to the desired communication device when it is determined that the second public key has not been stored.