KEY MANAGEMENT IN AN ACCESS NETWORK

摘要

Key management is an important component in the management of a communications network. For example, it is important that secret information (e.g., some keys) be distributed only to trusted nodes in the network. In one aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a method of distributing keys. In one embodiment, a key distributor (e.g., a root node) that implements an embodiment of the method will distribute a key to a requesting node only if (a) the node transmits a certain message at a point in time that fall within a predefined window of time, (b) an identifier identifying the requesting node is included in a predefined list of trusted nodes, and/or (c) a network operator indicates that the requesting node is accepted.