Patent ID: 6070246
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In a data-over-cable system including a plurality of network devices, a method of securely initializing a network device, the method comprising the following steps:receiving a request a for first configuration file on a first protocol server from a first network device, the first configuration file including a plurality of configuration parameters to initialize the first network device;adding a unique identifier for the first network device to the first configuration file;adding a selected time-value to the first configuration file, wherein the selected time-value indicates a sending time for the first configuration file;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 first configuration file for the network device;adding the message integrity check value to the first configuration file; andsending the first configuration file from the first protocol server to the first network device,wherein the first network device uses the message integrity check value, the unique identifier and the selected-time value indicating when the first message was sent from the first protocol server to verify the integrity of first configuration file.