Method and Apparatus for Generating Large Numbers of Encryption Keys

A method of generating random keys for security applications, the method comprising:

• obtaining information associated with a key exchange session with a first group member;
• generating from the obtained information a set of keys for use by the first group member and additional pseudo-random information not for use by the first group member;
• and
• combining the additional pseudo-random information with a fresh random secret to stretch the fresh random secret to enable additional random keys to be generated from the fresh random secret.

A method of generating random keys for security applications in a network, the method comprising:

• exchanging key information between a first network element and a second network element;
• based on at least some of the key information exchanged between the first network element and the second network element, generating a set of keys for use by the first network element and additional pseudo-random information not for use by the first network element;
• and
• combining the additional pseudo-random information with a fresh random secret to generate additional random keys.