System and method for updating encryption key for wireless LAN
AssigneeNEC Corporation
InventorShinichi Morimoto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
System for updating an encrypted key, by means of which the WEP of IEEE 802.11 can be applied to a wireless LAN system having plural APs and a large number of STAs. A key management server is LAN-connected to the APs. A set of plural (k) encrypted keys used for wireless communication between the entire APs and STAs is provided and managed monistically. If an encrypted key is updated in the key management server, the updated key is delivered to each of the APs and the STAs.
Claims21
An updating system for an encrypted key for a wireless LAN in which a wireless access point is provided on a LAN, said wireless access point being wirelessly connected to a plurality of wireless access terminal devices and in which data is encrypted and transmitted between the wireless access point and the plurality of wireless access terminal devices, said system comprising:
- a key management server device, LAN-connected to said wireless access point, comprising:
- a storage unit for holding k encrypted keys used in the encrypted communication between said wireless access point and the plurality of wireless access terminal devices, where k is greater than 1;
- and
- an encrypted key generating unit generating said k encrypted keys and storing the generated k encrypted keys in said storage unit;
- wherein said key management server device controls said encrypted key generating unit to update one of said encrypted keys stored in said storage unit and delivers the updated encrypted key to said wireless access point and to said plurality of wireless access terminal devices;
- wherein each one of said wireless access point and said plurality of wireless access terminal devices decrypts wireless communications using said updated encrypted key.
An updating method for an encrypted key for a wireless LAN comprising:
- (a) providing a wireless access point provided on a LAN, said wireless access point being wirelessly connected to a plurality of wireless access terminal devices and in which data is encrypted and transmitted between the wireless access point and the plurality of wireless access terminal devices;
- (b) generating, by a key management server device, LAN-connected to said wireless access point, k encrypted keys, k being greater than 1, used for encrypted communication between said wireless access point and said plurality of wireless access terminal devices;
- (c) storing and managing, by said key management server device the k encrypted keys;
- (d) updating one of the encrypted keys under a preset condition, and
- (e) delivering the updated encrypted key to said wireless access point and to said plurality of wireless access terminal devices;
- and
- (f) each one of said wireless access point and said plurality of wireless access terminal devices decrypting wireless communications using said updated encrypted key.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.