Patent ID: 8526621

Claim:
A computer implemented method for cryptographic key creation, the method comprising the acts of: accepting a plurality of cryptographic key components generated on a respective computer system of a plurality of parties thereby yielding a plurality of candidate cryptographic key components; verifying proper participation of the plurality of parties, wherein the act of verifying proper participation of the plurality of parties includes an act of: establishing submission of a public key component and information to establish a corresponding secret key component, wherein the public key component is derived from the corresponding secret key component; and constructing, by a computer processor, a public key based on a plurality of public key components from the plurality of candidate cryptographic key components submitted by parties determined to be proper; and generating, after a predetermined time, a secret key based on the secret key components corresponding to the plurality of public key components from the plurality of candidate cryptographic key components, wherein at least some of the secret key components are revealed after the predetermined time.