Method of triggering a key delivery from a mesh key distributor

摘要

A mesh station applying for access to a network includes a list of peer stations in messages of an authenticated key establishment protocol. A mesh key distributor derives a key delivery key and generates a top level key, and then delivers the top level key to the mesh station. Following the key establishment protocol, the mesh key distributor also creates pairwise keys for use between the mesh station and the peer stations listed in its peer list. The list of peers permits the identifier for the peer to be bound into the derived key, which helps ensure that the key used between each pair of peers is unique. Once the mesh key distributor finishes creating a key for one of the stations on the peer list, the mesh key distributor sends a message to the peer to initiate a key push.

主权项

1. A method of triggering a transmission of a key from a mesh key distributor, the method comprising:
transmitting, by a mesh station, at least one security message to the mesh key distributor, wherein the at least one security message includes a list of peer station identifiers; deriving, by the mesh key distributor, a peer key for use between a peer station identified in the list of peer station identifiers and the mesh station; and transmitting, by the mesh key distributor, a key push message to the peer station to initiate a key push to the peer station for the derived peer key.