Patent ID: 6049878
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A system for secure multicast comprising:at least one sending entity operating on a sending computer system, the sending entity having a sending multicast application running thereon;a number (N) of receiving entities each of which run on a receiving computer system, the receiving entities having a receiving multicast application running thereon;a traffic distribution component coupled to the sending entity and each of the receiving entities, the traffic distribution component supporting a connectionless datagram protocol;a participant key management component within each receiver entity, the participant key management component holding a first key that is shared with the sending entity and all of the number (N) of receiving entities, and a second key that is shared with the sending entity and at least one but less than all of the receiving entities; anda group key management component coupled to the traffic distribution component and having a data structure for storing all of the participant first and second keys.