Patent ID: 10135616

Abstract:
A method and apparatus are presented for revoking cryptographic keys within a distributed ledger system in which no central trusted authority is available. A key revocation message is sent by a network connected device to other network connected devices over a peer-to-peer network for inclusion in a ledger. In one embodiment the revocation message is signed using a private key of a public/private key pair to be revoked. In another embodiment an authorization for future revocation of the public/private key pair by a plurality of other public/private keys is sent for inclusion in the ledger, and subsequently the key revocation message is signed with one of the private keys of the plurality of other public/private key pairs before sending the key revocation message. Once a valid key revocation message is included in the ledger, any future request to include a message signed by a cryptographic key revoked by the valid key revocation message is rejected.