Randall C Atkinson

US Patent:

55111220, Apr 23, 1996

Filed:

Jun 3, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/254087

Inventors:

Randall Atkinson - Annandale VA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

H04K 100

US Classification:

380 25

Abstract:

An internetwork authentication method is provided for verifying a sending host by a receiving host or an intermediate router or gateway. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining a network address and a public key of a receiving host; utilizing the public key from the receiving host in combination with a private key of the originating host to generate a cryptographic signature; transmitting the signature along with data through a first subnetwork in at least one packet; receiving at least one packet at the receiving host; and the receiving host utilizing a private key of said receiving host site and a public key of said originating host to verify said cryptographic signature.