Patent ID: 6584566
Filing Date: 2003-06-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A computer-implemented method comprising:an initiator key server distributing to a plurality of key servers a first key set including an initial common group key and a replacement common group key; initially distributing the initial common group key, but not the replacement common group key, to clients of the plurality of key servers that are currently members of a multicast group as a current common group key for multicast messages; responsive to a first need to re-key the current common group key of the multicast group, each of the key servers subsequently distributing to their clients that are currently members of the multicast group the previously distributed replacement common group key as the current common group key; and wherein said subsequently distributing is performed at least in part in parallel with said initiator key server distributing to the plurality of key servers a second key set including a different initial common group key and replacement common group key.