Patent ID: 8385552
Filing Date: 2013-02-26
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving, at a first key receiver, a first secure key from a first key server, the first secure key being configured to encrypt messages sent on a network segment; maintaining a peer list, the peer list including state information received from one or more key receivers, the state information comprising information for a future election of a new key server; and electing a new key server from a group of receivers based on the state information previously received from the one or more key receivers, the group of receivers comprising the first key receiver and the one or more key receivers, the election being performed using a heuristic applied by the first key receiver, the election being performed separately at the first key receiver from the one or more key receivers, wherein based upon the election resulting in a tie, determining the new key server using a tie-breaker heuristic applied by the first key receiver, wherein based upon the first key receiver being the elected new key server, the first key server is configured to send a second secure key to the one or more key receivers, the second secure key being configured to encrypt messages to send among the group of the first key receiver and the one or more key receivers, and wherein based upon the first key receiver not being elected as the new key server, the first key receiver is configured to receive the second secure key from the new key server.