| 摘要 |
This invention relates to storing data securely. The Invention provides a method and security apparatus for secure data storage in which the security apparatus receives a request (10) for a locking key from a data supplier wherein the request includes unlock data; creates (20) a locking key (and a different unlocking key if necessary) and a key reference associating said keys and said key reference with said unlock data; sends (22) said locking key and said key reference to said data supplier; receives a request (26) for an unlocking key from a data user wherein the request includes a key reference; and in the event that the unlock data associated with said key reference allows the associated key to be released send (34) the associated unlocking key to the data user. In a preferred embodiment, the unlock data is an unlock date; the invention provides secure means whereby data may be provided from a data supplier to a data user in an encrypted form, and kept encrypted until an unlock date specified by the data supplier has passed. The secure data is stored by the data user, but is not made accessible to them until the unlock date. |
