Key catalogs in a content centric network

A computer-implemented method to facilitate key retrieval, the method comprising:

• generating, by a client computing device, a first interest for a key indicated in a signed key catalog, wherein the key indicated in the signed key catalog is embedded within a key set such that a request for another key within the signed key catalog functions as the first interest, wherein the signed key catalog comprises a link to a chunked key stream partitioned based on a chunking protocol;
• in response to receiving the key as a received key, verifying the received key by determining that a hash of the received key matches a hash of the key as indicated in the catalog based on a name for the received key;
• generating a second interest for a content object, wherein a name for the second interest includes a name prefix associated with the key as indicated in the catalog, wherein the first interest is transmitted before or concurrent with transmitting the second interest;
• and
• in response to receiving the content object, verifying the received content object based on the key.

A computer system to facilitate key retrieval, comprising:

• a processor;
• a storage device coupled to the processor and storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising creating, by a content producing device, a key catalog that indicates a collection of key sets, wherein a key set indicates one or more keys based on a name prefix associated with a respective key, a name for the respective key, and a hash of the respective key;
• and
• producing a digital signature for the key catalog based on a private key of the content producing device of the catalog,
• wherein a given key in the key catalog is embedded within a given key set such that a request for another key within the key catalog functions as a first interest in a content-centric network, and
• wherein the signed key catalog comprises a link to a chunked key stream partitioned based on a chunking protocol.