A PROCESS FOR THE VERIFICATION OF CRYPTOGRAPHIC OPERATIONAL KEYS USED IN DATA COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

摘要

This invention concerns a process and apparatus for the verification of cryptographic operational keys used in data communication networks.
In a data communication network providing communication security for communication sessions between a first station and a second station where each station has cryptographic apparatus provided with an operational key which should be common to both stations for cryptographic operations, an operational key verification arrangement is provided in which a first number provided at the first station is operated upon in accordance with the first station operational key to obtain cryptographic data for transmission to the second station, requiring the second station to perform an operation on the first station cryptographic data in accordance with the second station operational key to obtain cryptographic data for transmission back to the first station, and in which an operation is performed at the first station in accordance with the first number and the second station cryptographic data to verify that the second station is the source of second station cryptographic data only if the operational keys are identical.