Patent ID: 7885413

Claim:
A method of encrypting and storing a data entity, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting a public component of a fifth encryption key from a first computer system to a second computer system; using the public component of the fifth encryption key to encrypt a first encryption key, resulting in an encrypted first encryption key; transmitting the encrypted first encryption key from the second computer system to the first computer system; decrypting the encrypted first encryption key using a private component of the fifth encryption key; encrypting the data entity using the first encryption key having a first encryption key identification; encrypting the first encryption key identification using a second encryption key having a second encryption key identification; encrypting the second encryption key identification using a third encryption key; storing the encrypted data entity, the encrypted first encryption key identification, and the encrypted second encryption key identification together on the first computer system; encrypting the first encryption key using a fourth encryption key having a fourth encryption key identification; encrypting the fourth encryption key identification using the third encryption key; encrypting the second and fourth encryption keys using the third encryption key; storing the unencrypted first encryption key identification, the encrypted fourth encryption key identification, and the encrypted first encryption key together on the second computer system; storing the unencrypted second encryption key identification and the encrypted second encryption key together on the second computer system; storing the unencrypted fourth encryption key identification and the encrypted fourth encryption key together on the second computer system; and securing the third encryption key.