Systems and methods for rejoining a second group of nodes with a first group of nodes using a shared group key
AssigneeMatsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
InventorW. Bryant Eastham
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for rejoining a second group of nodes with a first group of nodes is described. A first state of a first group key associated with a first group of nodes is received. The first state of the first group key is multicast to a second group of nodes. The first group key is rekeyed to a second group key associated with the second group of nodes. A second state of the second group key is multicast to the second group of nodes. A third state of a third group key associated with the first group of nodes is received. A rekey command is multicast to the second group of nodes if the third state is different from the second state. The second group key is rekeyed to the third group key.
Claims20
A method for rejoining a second group of nodes with a first group of nodes, the method:
- comprising:
- receiving a first state of a first group key associated with a first group of nodes;
- multicasting the first state of the first group key to a second group of nodes;
- rekeying the first group key to a second group key associated with the second group of nodes;
- multicasting a second state of the second group key to the second group of nodes;
- receiving a third state of a third group key associated with the first group of nodes;
- multicasting a rekey command to the second group of nodes if the third state is different from the second state;
- and
- rekeying the second group key to the third group key.
A computer system that is configured to rejoin a second group of nodes with a first group of nodes, the computer system comprising:
- a processor;
- memory in electronic communication with the processor;
- instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to:
- receive a first state of a first group key associated with a first group of nodes;
- multicast the first state of the first group key to a second group of nodes;
- rekey the first group key to a second group key associated with the second group of nodes;
- multicast a second state of the second group key to the second group of nodes;
- receive a third state of a third group key associated with the first group of nodes;
- multicast a rekey command to the second group of nodes if the third state is different from the second state;
- and
- rekey the second group key to the third group key.
A computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions for rejoining a second group of nodes with a first group of nodes, the instructions being executable to:
- receive a first state of a first group key associated with a first group of nodes;
- multicast the first state of the first group key to a second group of nodes;
- rekey the first group key to a second group key associated with the second group of nodes;
- multicast a second state of the second group key to the second group of nodes;
- receive a third state of a third group key associated with the first group of nodes;
- multicast a rekey command to the second group of nodes if the third state is different from the second state;
- and
- rekey the second group key to the third group key.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.