Patent ID: 6912655
Filing Date: 2005-06-28
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for key management, comprising: generating a set of encrypted bits at a security server; transmitting said set of encrypted bits from said security server to an application server; broadcasting said set of encrypted bits from said application server to a plurality of recipients, said set of encrypted bits comprising information for generating a set of encryption/decryption bits; transmitting said set of encrypted bits from a first recipient to said security server; authenticating said first recipient at said security server; transmitting a first set of bits from said security server to said first recipient if said first recipient is authenticated, said first set of bits being a subset of said set of encrypted bits in decrypted form and comprising information for generating a set of encryption bits; generating said set of encryption bits at said first recipient from said first set of bits; encrypting a data stream at said first recipient using said set of encryption bits to form a first encrypted data stream; and broadcasting said first encrypted data stream from said first recipient with said set of encrypted bits to a plurality of receivers; wherein said set of encrypted bits further comprises information selected from the group consisting of a policy, a message digest and a date and time stamp, and further wherein said policy comprises information selected from the group consisting of security levels of said recipients and classification of said data stream.