Importance

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Abstract

A programmed computer secures communications between users of a crypto-system in which each user has an associated asymmetric crypto-key with a public key portion accessible to all system users and a corresponding private key portion having a first private key portion known only to the associated user and a corresponding second private key portion. The computer includes a processor programmed to generate a temporary asymmetric crypto-key having a first temporary key portion and an associated second temporary key portion. The computer then encrypts the second temporary key portion with the first private key portion of a first user crypto-key associated with a first user to form a first encrypted message. The processor directs the issuance of the first encrypted message to a second user having access to the second private key portion of the first user crypto-key. The processor next applies the public key portion of the first user crypto-key to decrypt a second encrypted message generated by the second user, which includes the first encrypted message encrypted with the second private key portion of the first user crypto-key, to thereby authenticate the second user to the first user. The computer also includes a storage medium for storing the first temporary key portion, and the public key portion of the first user crypto-key.

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First Claim