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US 6,295,361 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for multicast indication of group key change
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorsMiriam C. Kadansky, Stephen R. Hanna
Life of this patent
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AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorsMiriam C. Kadansky, Stephen R. Hanna
Estimating the term…
A method and apparatus to allow a key manager node in a network to initiate the process of changing a group key for all nodes in a multicasting group. In the described embodiment, the key manager node initiates changing the group key by setting an indicator in a multicast packet. The indicator indicates that each of the nodes in the multicast group should obtain a new group key from the key manager node. The key manager node sets the indicator whenever the key manager node determines that the nodes in the group need to change their key. The nodes in the multicast group then obtain a key from the key manager node. In one embodiment of the present invention, the key manager node sends the group key to the members of the group and, once all nodes in the group have received their key, sends an indicator that the group members should start using the new keys. In another embodiment, the key manager node sends the new key to the group, along with instructions specifying when the new key is to take effect. For example, the new key can take effect at a certain time or when a certain packet number is received. In another embodiment, each receiver in the group uses both the new key and the old key for a predetermined time period or until all group members have received the key.
A method of changing a group key, comprising the steps performed by a node including a key manager function in a system for processing data, of:
A method of changing a group key, comprising the steps performed by a node including a key manager function in a system for processing data, of:
A method of changing a group key, comprising the steps performed by a system for processing data, of:
A method of changing a group key, comprising the steps performed by a member of a group in a system for processing data, of:
An apparatus that changes a group key, comprising:
A computer program product comprising:
A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing sequences of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to change a group key, by performing the steps of:
An apparatus that changes a group key, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.