초록 ▼

A system and method for data escrow cryptography are described. An encrypting user encrypts a message using a secret storage key (KS) and attaches a data recovery field (DRF), including an access rule index (ARI) and KS, to the encrypted message. The DRF and the encrypted message are stored in a sto

A system and method for data escrow cryptography are described. An encrypting user encrypts a message using a secret storage key (KS) and attaches a data recovery field (DRF), including an access rule index (ARI) and KS, to the encrypted message. The DRF and the encrypted message are stored in a storage device. To recover KS, a decrypting user extracts and sends the DRF to a data recovery center (DRC) that issues a challenge based on access rules (ARs) originally defined by the encrypting user. If the decrypting user meets the challenge, the DRC sends KS in a message to the decrypting user. Generally, KS need not be an encryption key but could represent any piece of confidential information that can fit inside the DRF. In all cases, the DRC limits access to decrypting users who can meet the challenge defined in either the ARs defined by the encrypting user or the ARs defined for override access.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A data recovery center, comprising:means for receiving an access rule from an access rule defining system in communication with the data recovery center, wherein said access rule includes an authentication test or a compound authorization rule, said access rule defining a

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A data recovery center, comprising:means for receiving an access rule from an access rule defining system in communication with the data recovery center, wherein said access rule includes an authentication test or a compound authorization rule, said access rule defining at least a portion of a procedure for authenticating an identity of an emergency decryptor, wherein emergency decryption comprises decryption using a data recovery field;means for generating an access rule index and associating said access rule index with said access rule, wherein an access rule index is included within a data recovery field and allows the data recovery center to locate an access rule that control access, by an emergency decryptor, to a secret within a data recovery field; andmeans for communicating said access rule index to said access rule defining system.