Method of Enabling or Disabling Verification Process

Abstract

A method is provided of enabling or disabling a verification process of a first entity in response to a predetermined event. The first entity has at least one associated bit-pattern and at least one variant key. Each variant key has been generated by applying a one way function to: a base key; and one or more of the at least one bit-patterns, respectively; or one or more alternative bit patterns. Each alternative bit-pattern is based on one of the at least one bit-patterns. In the method, it is determined that the predetermined event has happened, and at least one of the first variant keys is enabled or disabled in response to the predetermined event.

1 . A method of enabling or disabling a verification process of a first entity in response to a predetermined event, the first entity having at least one associated bit-pattern and at least one variant key, each of the variant keys having been generated by applying a one way function to: a base key; and one or more of the at least one bit-patterns, respectively; or one or more alternative bit patterns, each of the alternative bit-patterns being based on one of the at least one bit-patterns, the method comprising:
 (a) determining that the predetermined event has happened; and   (b) enabling or disabling at least one of the first variant keys in response to the predetermined event.   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein step (a) includes disabling at least one of the variant keys, such that the disabled at least one variant key can no longer be used to digitally sign information in that entity. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein step (a) includes disabling at least one of the variant keys, such that the disabled at least one variant key can no longer be used to verify information signed by one or more respective base keys related to the disabled at least one variant key in that entity. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of disabling the at least one variant key includes modifying a status of a flag associated with that at least one variant key. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of disabling the at least one variant key includes deleting that at least one variant key. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of disabling the at least one variant key includes modifying that at least one variant key 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the event is a predetermined point in time being reached or passed. 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first entity includes a plurality of the variant keys, the plurality of variant keys being based on the result of a one way function applied to: a respective one of a corresponding plurality of base keys; and one of the at least one bit-patterns or one of the at least one alternative bit-patterns, the method comprising:
 determining that a predetermined event related to one of the variant keys has happened; and   enabling or disabling at least one of the plurality of variant keys with which the predetermined event is associated.   
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein each base key has a corresponding sequence of predetermined events associated with them, the method including the steps of:
 (a) determining that one of the predetermined event has happened; and   (b) enabling or disabling the variant key in the sequence corresponding to predetermined event that is determined to have happened.   
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the variant keys are disabled in the order of the sequence of predetermined events. 
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the sequence of events is chronological. 
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the events includes a time being reached. 
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the step of determining that one of the events has happened includes receiving a time from a trusted source. 
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the time is a date. 
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the date is determined with a resolution of a month. 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined event includes detection of compromise of one or more of the variant keys, the method comprising disabling the one or more variant keys detected as compromised. 
   
   
       17 . A method according to claim to  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined event includes suspect compromise of one or more of the variant keys, the method comprising disabling the one or more variant keys suspected of being compromised.