IP Library Granted Patent US 10,735,200
Granted Patent B2
US 10,735,200 · App. 14/671,137 · Granted Aug 4, 2020

Methods and systems for key generation

Inventors: Nancy Louise Davoust (Louisville, CO); Kevin Norman Taylor (Parker, CO)
Assignee: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
H04L9/3242H04L9/0816H04L9/0819H04L9/0836H04L9/0866H04L2209/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,735,200
App. No.
14/671,137
Granted
Aug 4, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems for key generation and device management are disclosed. A root key can be stored on a component which can be integrated with a device, and the component can store a product class identifier. The product class identifier can define a class of products, devices, features, hardware components, or other entities. One or more keys can be generated and stored on the devices based on the product class identifier and the root key. A network operator or service provider can then provide services to a class of devices that includes the device, or perform and manage other functions. The services can be authorized or otherwise implemented based on the one or more new keys stored at the devices within the class of devices.

Claims (46)

1. A method, comprising:

determining a product class identifier and a root key, wherein the product class identifier and the root key are both stored on a device, and wherein the product class identifier identifies a class of devices comprising a plurality of devices including the device;

generating a first new key by applying a first key creation function to a first portion of the product class identifier and the root key;

providing, based on the first new key, a first service;

generating a second new key by applying a second key creation function to a second portion of the product class identifier and the root key; and

providing, based on the second new key, a second service.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first key creation function comprises a cryptographic function.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the cryptographic function comprises a hash function.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first key creation function comprises a non-reversible key creation function, a non-reusable key creation function, or a combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first new key comprises a first portion of the first new key based on the product class identifier and a second portion of the first new key not based on the product class identifier.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first portion of the first new key is appended to the second portion of the first new key, and wherein the first portion of the first new key is a hash value based on the first portion of the product class identifier.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first new key is associated with one or more of a hardware feature of the device, a function of the device, or a combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the root key is stored on a component of the device by a first manufacturer of the component, and wherein the product class identifier is stored on the component by a second manufacturer of the device.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the component comprises a system on chip, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, or a combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the first new key in an encrypted storage, a permanent storage, or a combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing, based on the first new key, the first service comprises at least one of:

authorizing access, based on the first new key, to the first service;

decrypting, based on the first new key, information for the first service; or

encrypting, based on the first new key, information for the first service.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first new key is associated with a first state of the device, and the second new key is associated with a second state of the device.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product class identifier is associated with one or more of the device, a product, a class of product, a product model, a manufacturer, a service offered by the device, a product line, or a sales location.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first service comprises a first video service, and wherein the second service comprises a second video service.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to:

determine a product class identifier and a root key, wherein the product class identifier and the root key are both stored on a device, and wherein the product class identifier identifies a class of devices comprising a plurality of devices including the device;

generate a first new key by applying a first key creation function to a first portion of the product class identifier and the root key;

provide, based on the first new key, a first service;

generate a second new key by applying a second key creation function to a second portion of the product class identifier and the root key; and

provide, based on the second new key, a second service.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first key creation function comprises a cryptographic function.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the cryptographic function comprises a hash function.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first key creation function, a non-reusable key creation function, or a combination thereof.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first new key comprises a first portion of the first new key based on the product class identifier and a second portion of the first new key not based on the product class identifier.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the first portion of the first new key is appended to the second portion of the first new key, and wherein the first portion of the first new key is a hash value based on the first portion of the product class identifier.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the product class identifier is associated with one or more of the device, a product, a class of product, a product model, a manufacturer, a service offered by the device, a product line, or a sales location.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first service comprises a first video service, and wherein the second service comprises a second video service.

23. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory storing processor executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

determine a product class identifier and a root key, wherein the product class identifier and the root key are both stored on a device, and wherein the product class identifier identifies a class of devices comprising a plurality of devices including the device;

generate a first new key by applying a first key creation function to a first portion of the product class identifier and the root key;

provide, based on the first new key, a first service;

generate a second new key by applying a second key creation function to a second portion of the product class identifier and the root key; and

provide, based on the second new key, a second service.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the key creation function comprises a cryptographic function.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the product class identifier is associated with one or more of the device, a product, a class of product, a product model, a manufacturer, a service offered by the device, a product line, or a sales location.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the first service comprises a first video service, and wherein the second service comprises a second video service.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 27, 2015
From: DAVOUST, NANCY LOUISE; TAYLOR, KEVIN NORMAN
To: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 035277/0231 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160285636A1 · Sep 29, 2016
Cited By (1)
US 12,362,922