Patent EP0782111A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0782111A2
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Method and apparatus for securely authorizing performance of a function in a distributed system such as a postage meter
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1996-12-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-12-20
Abstract
Abstract A method for authorizing performance of a function in a distributed system (1) having first (3) and second (5) subsystems in communication with each other includes the steps of separately generating a mutual session key within the first and second subsystems; utilizing the mutual session key generated in each of the first and second subsystems (3, 5) for authenticating the first subsystem; and authorizing performance of the function only upon completion of the authenticating of step B). An apparatus performs the inventive method.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald T. Dolan
- 👤 Dale A. French
- 👤 Kathryn V. Lawton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:31
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/30; G06F21/44; G06F21/445; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00314; G07B17/00733; G06F2211/00; G06F2211/007; G07B17/00193; G07B2017/00241; G07B2017/00322; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00508; G07B2017/00572; G07B2017/0058; G07B2017/00846; G07B2017/0087; G07B2017/00879
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for authorizing performance of a function in a distributed system (1) having first and second subsystems (3, 5) in communication with each other, the method comprising the steps of: A) separately generating a mutual session key within the first and second subsystems; B) utilizing the mutual session key generated in each of the first and second subsystems for authenticating the first subsystem; C) authorizing performance of the function only upon completion of the authenticating of step B).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising utilizing the mutual session key generated in each of the first and second subsystems for authenticating the second subsystem and authorize performance of the function only upon completion of the authenticating of the first and second subsystems
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 1 or 2, further comprising authenticating the first and second subsystems without transmitting the mutual session key between the first and second subsystems.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in any one of the preceding claims, wherein during step C) printing by the distributed system is authorized.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
63 words
A method as recited in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising separately selecting a common one of a plurality of authentication keys within the first and second subsytems and respectively using the common one of the plurality of authentication keys selected within each of the first and second subsystems to generate the mutual session key within the first and second subsystems.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as recited in claim 5, wherein generating of the mutual session key within the first and second subsystems is accomplished without transmitting the common one of the plurality of authentication keys between the first and second subsystems.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the mutual session key is generated in the first and second subsystems by applying an encryption algorithm to the common one of the plurality of authentication keys and to a first data element that varies with the performance of each printing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the first and second subsystems respectively generate first and second authentication certificates which are each at least partially based upon the mutual session key and printing is authorized when the first and second authentication certificates are compared and determined to have a preexisting relationship to each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the first and second authentication certificates are generated by applying an encryption algorithm to the mutual session key and a second data element which varies with the performance of each printing.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
85 words
An apparatus for performing a function comprising: a first subsystem (3) having means (7) for establishing a mutual session key; and a second subsystem (5) having means (41) for establishing the mutual session key separately from the first subsystem; wherein the first and second subsystems (3, 5) communicate with each other and utilize the mutual session key established in each of the first and second subsytems to mutually authenticate each other and to only permit performance of the function upon completion of the mutual authentication.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the apparatus is a postage meter (1) and the first and second subsystems are respectively a vault (3) and a printer (5) and the function is printing of an indicia which is performed by the printer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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