Patent ID: 7873166
Filing Date: 2011-01-18
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for providing a cryptographic key, comprising: (a) receiving, at a key strength controlling agent, a request for a cryptographic key; (b) analyzing, by the key strength controlling agent, a restriction identifier in a license file, the key strength controlling agent and the license file residing on a common communication device; (c) thereafter and based on the analyzing step, determining, by the key strength controlling agent, whether the cryptographic key strength is restricted, wherein the restriction identifier is a Global Positioning System (GPS) signal, wherein the GPS signal is received from a GPS module external to the common communication device, wherein the common communication device is inoperable unless the GPS module is plugged in to the common communication device, and wherein the determining step comprises: (d) when the restriction identifier positively identifies that the cryptographic key is restricted, the common communication device generating and using a second cryptographic key having a second key strength; and (e) when the restriction identifier does not positively identify that the cryptographic key is restricted, the common communication device generating and using a first cryptographic key having a first key strength, wherein the first key strength is higher than the second key strength, wherein the second cryptographic key is derived from the first cryptographic key when the restriction identifier positively identifies the cryptographic key strength as being restricted, and wherein all bits of the first and second cryptographic keys are kept secret.