Patent ID: 8223974

Claim:
A method implemented in a server node for providing self-healing encryption keys, the method comprising the steps of: defining in the server node a self-healing period p; generating in the server node forward keys, wherein applying a first one-way function to a first forward key for an instant i (FK i ) generates a second forward key for a next instant i+1 (FK i+1 ); generating in the server node backward keys, wherein applying a second one-way function to a first backward key for an instant i (BK i ) generates a second backward key for a previous instant i−1 (BK i−1 ); sending from the server node towards a client node at instant i, the forward key at instant i (FK i ) and a backward key corresponding to an instant i+p (BK i+p ); sending from the server node towards the client node, at each new instant, after instant i, a new backward key (BKn+p); receiving at the server node from the client node feedback related to the self-healing period p based in the sending of the new backward key for each new instant after instant i; and adjusting at the server node the self-healing period p based on the received feedback.