Patent ID: 6047072
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of secure key distribution on a nonsecure network, comprising the steps of:securely transmitting a password generated by a Subscriber to a Provider over said network, said Subscriber not possessing sufficient computational facility to create a secure crypto-key; andusing a method dependent upon said password to securely transfer a decryption key from said Provider to said Subscriber over said network, said decryption key being usable by said Subscriber to securely decrypt subsequent messages encrypted by said Provider and transmitted over said network,wherein said password dependent method comprises the steps of:Provider transmission of a table of private keys and a lookup algorithm to said Subscriber over said network;Subscriber selection of a selected private key from said table using said password as a parameter in said lookup algorithm;Provider selection of a selected public key from a table of public keys corresponding to said table of private keys, using said password as a parameter in said lookup algorithm;Provider encryption of said decryption key using said selected public key; andSubscriber decryption of said decryption key using said selected private key.