Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A system and method for secure group communication via multicast or broadcast transmission. In preferred embodiments, the system of the invention implements a secure multicast group consisting of senders, receivers, a group security controller (GSC), and at least one trusted intermediary (TI) server. The GSC and each TI server are responsible for maintaining the security of the group by authenticating and authorizing all other members of the multicast as well as managing the group key(s) (Kgrp(s)) that are used to encrypt the messages multicast to the group. Any member of the group may have more than one role at a time. For example, senders may also be receivers, and the GSC may be combined with one of the senders. Each TI server is a trusted intermediary, which is a special type of sender and receiver. The TI servers create a (logical) hierarchy of secure multicast networks (a secure distribution tree) that makes the system of the invention scalable (able to practically implement a group of any number of members). Some embodiments of the system implement a security protocol supporting data confidentiality, source authentication, data integrity, and sender non-repudiation. Implementation of the system does not require use of any specific security technology (i.e. cryptographic and authentication tools). The decision to use one technology over another is left to the implementor.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim