Patent ID: 6170061
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
In a data-over-cable system including a plurality of network devices, a method of securely registering a network device, the method comprising the following steps: receiving a first configuration file on a first network device from a first protocol server, the first configuration file including a plurality of configuration parameters; creating a first message on the first network device including one or more configuration parameters from the first configuration file; adding a unique identifier for the first network device to the first message; adding a selected time-value to the first message, wherein the selected time-value indicates a sending time for the first message; calculating a message integrity check value using the unique identifier, the selected time-value and one or more configuration parameters from the first configuration file in a pre-determined order to uniquely identify the configuration information for the network device; adding the message integrity check value to the first message; and sending the first message from the first network device to a second network device, wherein the second network device uses the message integrity check value, the unique identifier of the first network device and the selected time-value to verify the integrity of the first message.