Patent ID: 8094823

Claim:
A method for use in a network of m members comprising the steps of: arranging the network such that one member is a key distribution center (KDC) and the other m members are relay stations (RS), wherein RS(i) denotes the ith RS; sending by each RS(i) a random number K(i) based on g^r(i) to the KDC, wherein g is a generator and r(i) is a random integer picked by the RS(i); generating by the KDC a random group key RDK based on g^(r( 1 )r( 2 ) . . . r(m))R, wherein g is the generator, and R is a random number generated by the KDC; sending by the KDC back to each RS(i) a partial key g^((r( 1 )r( 2 ) . . . r(m))Rr(i) −1 ); generating by each RS(i) from the received partial key the RDK based on g^(r( 1 )r( 2 ) . . . r(m)R)r(i); and using the RDK by all m members of the group to secure communications between the members of the group.