Patent US5872849A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5872849A
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Enhanced cryptographic system and method with key escrow feature
Assignee: Certco Inc
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Filing: 1997-02-19
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Granted: 1999-02-16
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Expires: 2017-02-19
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a cryptographic system and method with a key escrow feature that uses a method for verifiably splitting users' private encryption keys into components and for sending those components to trusted agents chosen by the particular users, and provides a system that uses modern public key certificate management, enforced by a chip device that also self-certifies. The methods for key escrow and receiving an escrow certificate are also applied herein to a more generalized case of registering a trusted device with a trusted third party and receiving authorization from that party enabling the device to communicate with other trusted devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Wells Sudia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 08:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/02; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/382; G06Q20/3821; G06Q20/3829; H; H04; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/08; H04L9/0816; H04L9/0819; H04L9/0825; H04L9/0838; H04L9/0841; H04L9/0844; H04L9/085; H04L9/088; H04L9/0894; H04L9/32; H04L9/3247; H04L9/3263; G06F; G06F7/00; G06F7/60; G06F7/72; G06F7/724; G06F7/725
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for secure communication in a system having at least one communicating party and a message key that is recoverable by one not a party to the communication, the method comprising steps of: providing each user with a computer hardware device; registering hardware devices with a center in accordance with control information determined by a device owner distinct from a device user; certifying hardware devices, each certification generating a certificate associating a center, a user, and a hardware device; initiating a secure communication from an initiating user to a recipient using a message key in a manner that permits the owner to access the communication.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for secure communication in a system having at least one communicating party and a message key that is recoverable by one not a party to the communication, the method comprising steps of: providing each user with a computer hardware device; registering hardware devices with a center in accordance with control information determined by a device owner distinct from a device user; certifying hardware devices, each certification generating a certificate associating a center, a user, and a hardware device; initiating a secure communication from an initiating user to a recipient using a message key in a manner that permits the owner to access the communication.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the registering step includes a step of registering a device only at a center selected from a plurality of centers in accordance with owner-determined information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the registering step includes a step of registering a device at a center selected from a plurality of centers in accordance with information incorporated into the device by one other than the user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the registering step includes steps of: registering a device at a first center; and registering a device at a second center selected from a plurality of centers in accordance owner-determined information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the registering step includes steps of certifying a device a limited number of times in accordance with owner-determined information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the registering step includes as step of registering a device with a center in accordance with control information determined by a second device owner distinct from a first device owner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the second device owner is a user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the registering step includes a step of identifying the owner to the center.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a recipient is a storage device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the steps of the method requires a trusted device, and the trusted device engages in the required step only after incorporating owner information into the trusted device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a device performs a step of the method in response to an instruction confirmed by a key of one other than the user embedded in the device.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for encrypted communication in a system having communicating parties and a message key that is recoverable by one not a party to the communication the method comprising steps of: providing each user with a computer hardware device having at least one device-associated key; registering hardware devices with at least a selected one of a plurality of centers; certifying the hardware devices, said certification generating a certificate for a device; initiating a secure communication from an initiating user to a recipient using a message key, said communication containing an access portion encrypted by a key of the center to recover the message key, wherein the communication step includes steps of: encrypting access information using a key of a first center; and encrypting access information using a key of a second center.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for encrypted communication in a system having communicating parties and a message key that is recoverable by one not a party to the communication the method comprising steps of: providing each user with a computer hardware device having at least one device-associated key; registering hardware devices with at least a selected one of a plurality of centers; certifying the hardware devices, said certification generating a certificate for a device; initiating a secure communication from an initiating user to a recipient using a message key, said communication containing an access portion encrypted by a key of the center to recover the message key, wherein the communication step includes steps of: encrypting access information using a key of a first center; and encrypting access information using a key of a second center.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-15 | 2002-08-17 | 2003-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-15 | 2006-08-17 | 2007-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-15 | 2010-08-17 | 2011-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |