Patent ID: 6034618
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A device authentication system, for a communication system composed of a first appliance and a second appliance that are connected by a communication path, where the first appliance verifies authenticity of the second appliance,the first appliance comprising:verification function storing means for storing a plurality of verification functions for verifying the authenticity of the second appliance;first challenge data transmitting means for generating first challenge data and transmitting the first challenge data to the second appliance;first response data receiving means for receiving first response data from the second appliance, the first response data corresponding to the first challenge data;first verifying means for verifying whether the first challenge data and the first response data are related by a verification function out of the plurality of verification functions; andfirst authenticating means for authenticating the second appliance when the first verifying means finds the verification function that relates the first challenge data and the first response data,and the second appliance comprising:claimant function storing means for storing a plurality of claimant functions for proving the authenticity of the second appliance, wherein the plurality of claimant functions each correspond to a different verification function out of the plurality of verification functions;first challenge data receiving means for receiving the first challenge data transmitted by the first appliance;claimant function selecting means for selecting one claimant function out of the plurality of claimant functions; andfirst response data transmitting means for generating the first response data from the first challenge data based on the claimant function selected by the claimant function selecting means, and transmitting the first response data to the first appliance.