Patent ID: 7730518
Filing Date: 2010-06-01
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for partitioning of cryptographic functionality so as to permit delegation of at least one of a plurality of distinct portions of the cryptographic functionality from a delegating device to at least one recipient device, the cryptographic functionality being characterized as a graph comprising a plurality of nodes, the method comprising the steps of: associating a given set of the nodes with a corresponding one of the plurality of distinct portions of the cryptographic functionality; and transmitting from the delegating device to the recipient device information representative of one or more of the nodes; the recipient device being configured based on the transmitted information for authorized execution of a corresponding one of the plurality of distinct portions of the cryptographic functionality; wherein the nodes of the graph are arranged in a plurality of levels with one or more nodes at each level; wherein the nodes correspond to respective seeds; wherein a first seed associated with a node of a first one of the levels is computed as a function of a second seed associated with a node of a second one of the levels higher than the first level; the transmitted information including the first seed but not the second seed; wherein the delegating device and the recipient device perform distinct functions; and wherein the delegating device and said at least one recipient device collectively perform the cryptographic functionality.