Patent ID: 8699713
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising the steps of: updating at least one key in a first cryptographic device; and sending an update message comprising information characterizing the updated key from the first cryptographic device to a second cryptographic device; wherein said update message as sent by the first cryptographic device is configured to permit the second cryptographic device to detect compromise of the updated key by determining if an inconsistency is present in the corresponding received update message based at least in part on that received update message and one or more previously-received update messages; wherein the updating step comprises generating an updated set of keys by applying a key update function to a previous set of keys, the key update function updating at least one key selected from the previous set of keys; and wherein said update message sent in the sending step comprises at least one of: a parity symbol of an error-correcting code; an updated key appended to at least one previous key; and an updated key embedded in a digital signature.