Patent ID: 8023646
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for using multiple instances of an identical identity-based-encryption (IBE) scheme in an IBE extension to the IBE scheme to communicate securely over a communications network, comprising: at computing equipment of a sender, creating multiple component identities from an IBE extension identity by mapping the IBE extension identity to a corresponding component identity for each instance of the IBE scheme; at the computing equipment of the sender, encrypting a message by using the component identities in corresponding instances of the identical IBE scheme to create a corresponding set of ciphertexts; combining the ciphertexts to create a single ciphertext corresponding to the message; sending the single ciphertext to a recipient over the communications network; at computing equipment of the recipient, receiving the single ciphertext; requesting an IBE extension private key corresponding to the IBE extension identity; and receiving an IBE private key from a private key generator and, at the recipient, separating the IBE private key into a plurality of constituent IBE private keys each corresponding to one of the instances of the IBE scheme.