Cryptographic key split combiner

• US 8,712,046 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2012
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TecSec, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TecSec, Incorporated
• Inventors: Scheidt, Edward M., Wack, C. Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Jr., Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, David
• Application Number:
  US13/544,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20130177152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 380/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/085 Secret sharing or secret splitting, e.g. threshold schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0861 Generation of secret information including derivation or calculation of cryptographic keys or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0866 involving user or device identifiers, e.g. serial number, physical or biometrical information, DNA, hand-signature or measurable physical characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0869 involving random numbers or seeds

Abstract

A cryptographic key split combiner includes a plurality of key split generators adapted to generate cryptographic key splits, a key split randomizer adapted to randomize the cryptographic key splits to produce a cryptographic key, and a digital signature generator. Each of the key split generators is adapted to generate key splits from seed data. The digital signature generator is adapted to generate a digital signature based on the cryptographic key. The digital signature generator can also be adapted to generate the digital signature based on a credential value. A process for forming cryptographic keys includes generating a plurality of cryptographic key splits from seed data. The cryptographic key splits are randomized to produce a cryptographic key. A digital signature is generated based on the cryptographic key. Generating a digital signature based on the cryptographic key can include generating the digital signature based on a credential value.

Claims

1. A cryptographic key split combiner, comprising:

a) a plurality of key split generators adapted to generate cryptographic key splits;

b) a key split randomizer adapted to randomize the cryptographic key splits to produce a cryptographic key; and

c) a digital signature generator;

d) wherein each of the key split generators is adapted to generate key splits from seed data; and

e) wherein the digital signature generator is adapted to generate a digital signature based on the cryptographic key.

2. The cryptographic key split combiner of claim 1, wherein the digital signature generator is also adapted to generate the digital signature based on a credential value.

3. A process for forming cryptographic keys, comprising:

a) generating a plurality of cryptographic key splits from seed data;

b) randomizing the cryptographic key splits to produce a cryptographic key; and

c) generating a digital signature based on the cryptographic key.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein generating a digital signature based on the cryptographic key includes generating the digital signature based on a credential value.