Generating protocol-specific keys for a mixed communication network

摘要

Security keys are typically needed to communicate with various network communication protocols of a mixed communication network. Herein, a protocol-specific key for a particular network communication protocol is generated based upon a result of a hash operation that includes a network key associated with the mixed communication network and information corresponding to the particular network communication protocol. Interoperability of multiple devices in the mixed communication network is made possible when the multiple devices generate (i.e. derive) protocol-specific keys using the same network key and common information corresponding to particular network communication protocols.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving a network key associated with a mixed communication network, the mixed communication network associated with a first network communication protocol and a second network communication protocol; generating, at a first device, a first protocol-specific key for use with the first network communication protocol of the mixed communication network, the first protocol-specific key based at least in part on the network key and a first identifier corresponding to the first network communication protocol; and communicating with a second device in the mixed communication network via the first network communication protocol using the first protocol-specific key.