Patent ID: 6785809
Filing Date: 2004-08-31
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method comprising:encrypting a message using a server group key, by a first of a plurality of key servers having clients that are currently members, the server group key being shared by the plurality of key servers and not by the clients to form a server multicast group within a common multicast group, the common multicast group including the clients that are currently members and sharing a current common group key, said message instructing the plurality of key servers regarding one or more keys used for encrypted communication between entities in the common multicast group; multicasting the encrypted message to rest of the plurality of key servers; receiving the current common group key and a replacement common group key distributed by the first of the key servers using the server group key; distributing only the current common group key to current members in a domain using one of a member private key and a domain key; and multicasting messages within the common multicast group using the current common group key.