Patent ID: 6240188
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
A distributed group key management system for providing secure communication between a plurality of members, comprising:a binary distribution tree for defining a communication structure including an internal node having a first branch and a second branch depending therefrom, said internal node having a blinded key and an unblinded key, each of said branches including a first member assigned to a corresponding leaf node, said first member being associated with a key association group comprised of at least one other member;said first member including;a unique binary ID associated with the corresponding leaf node to which the first member is assigned;a first secret key for contributing to the generation of the internal node blinded key; anda blinded key derived from said first secret key for exchanging with a blinded key of the at least one other member;wherein said first member uses the blinded key of the at least one other member and the first member first secret key to calculate an unblinded key of the first internal node to be used for encrypting data that is communicated between members located on branches depending from the first internal node.