Patent ID: 8170207
Filing Date: 2012-05-01
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of one member of a first entity contributing to the generation of a group short-term public key for said first entity, said first entity having a plurality of members for participation with a second entity in a computer implemented data communication system, said first entity including one or more processors for performing cryptographic operations, said group short-term public key intended for use by said first entity in establishing a shared secret value, said one member having a long-term private key and a corresponding long-term public key, said one member using at least one of said one or more processors to perform said method comprising: generating a short-term private key and a corresponding short-term public key; forwarding said short-term public key to other of said plurality of members within said first entity; receiving a respective short-term public key from each of said other of said plurality of members of said first entity, computing an intra-entity shared key by mathematically combining said short-term public key of said one member and respective short-term public keys received from other of said members; computing an intra-entity public key by mathematically combining its short-term private key, its long-term private key and said intra-entity shared key; and making said intra-entity public key available to said other members of said first entity, whereby said first entity may combine said short-term intra-entity public keys of said plurality of members to derive said group short-term public key.