Patent ID: 6711263
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A key distributing system comprising a distributing unit and a receiving unit interconnected by a communication link, said distributing unit having encryption key information to be distributed to said receiving unit, wherein:said distributing unit includes a first protecting circuit holding a public key of a trusted certificate authority; said receiving unit includes a second protecting circuit holding an original private key unique for said second protecting circuit, said second protecting circuit being associated with a certificate that includes information on the type of said second protecting circuit; wherein said first protecting circuit includes: means for requesting the certificate of said second protecting circuit; means for determining, by means of the public key of said certificate authority, whether the requested certificate is authentic; means for determining based on the type information of said certificate whether said second protecting circuit represents one of a number of predetermined types of circuits that are acceptable for protecting said encryption key information, provided said certificate is determined to be authentic; means for encrypting said encryption key information provided said second protecting circuit is determined to be acceptable; and means for transmitting said encrypted encryption key information to said second protecting circuit via said communication link; and wherein said second protecting circuit includes: means for decrypting said encrypted encryption key information; and means for storing said encryption key information.