{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853813","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9853813","title":"Method for securing a private key","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2016-05-10T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["H04L","H04L","H04L","H04L","H04W","H04W","H04W","H04L"],"num_claims":26,"abstract":"Systems and methods are provided for securing a private key on a mobile device for use with public key cryptography. Specifically, a private key is reduced to two partial keys where the partial keys are stored on separate electronic devices. The partial keys combine to temporarily regenerate the private key for the purposes of notarizing (digitally signing) messages or documents, and decrypting a message or document that was encrypted using the corresponding public key. The partial keys in some embodiments may be a secret key, which can be derived from an account identifier and a password, and an exclusive key, which can be derived from the secret key and the private key. The private key can be regenerated from the secret key and the exclusive key. With the partial keys stored on separate devices, another layer of practical security is provided to public key cryptography."},"analysis":{"summary":"The Method for Securing a Private Key patent addresses the critical vulnerability of private keys stored on mobile devices. The core innovation lies in fragmenting a private key into two partial keys, which are then stored on separate electronic devices. This approach mitigates the risk of unauthorized access and compromise by requiring an attacker to compromise multiple devices to reconstruct the complete key. The system generates a secret key, derived from an account identifier and a password, and an exclusive key, derived from the secret key and the private key. The private key is only temporarily regenerated when needed for specific operations, such as digitally signing documents or decrypting messages. \n\nThis technology enhances the overall security posture of cryptographic systems, reducing the reliance on centralized key management systems. The business value lies in the enhanced security it provides for mobile applications and services, fostering innovation and growth in the digital economy. By adopting this technology, businesses can reduce the risk of data breaches, protect sensitive information, and maintain customer trust. The market opportunity is vast, spanning mobile banking, e-commerce, secure messaging, and digital signatures. \n\nThe Method for Securing a Private Key aligns with the growing trend of decentralized security solutions, enhancing the resilience and robustness of the overall security infrastructure. The patent offers a valuable tool for individuals and organizations seeking to safeguard their sensitive data and communications in an increasingly interconnected world. This innovation represents a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to protect private keys and maintain trust in the digital realm.","layman_explanation":"The Method for Securing a Private Key patent addresses a critical problem in the world of digital security: the vulnerability of private keys. Private keys are essential for encrypting and decrypting data, digitally signing documents, and authenticating users. However, if a private key is compromised, it can lead to severe consequences such as identity theft, financial fraud, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Existing solutions for protecting private keys often fall short because they rely on storing the entire key in a single location, making it a single point of failure. \n\nTo address this problem, the Method for Securing a Private Key employs a novel approach that involves splitting the private key into two partial keys. These partial keys are then stored on separate electronic devices, ensuring that neither key alone is sufficient to reconstruct the complete private key. Think of it like having two keys to a safe deposit box, where each key is held by a different person. Neither person can access the contents of the box without the other person's key. Similarly, the Method for Securing a Private Key requires both partial keys to be present in order to perform cryptographic operations. \n\nThis technology matters because it significantly enhances the security of private keys, making it much more difficult for attackers to compromise them. The market impact is substantial, as it can be applied to a wide range of applications including mobile banking, e-commerce, secure messaging, and digital signatures. The competitive advantages lie in its distributed key management approach and its ability to integrate with existing public key cryptography systems. The potential ROI is high, as it can help businesses reduce the risk of data breaches, protect sensitive information, and maintain customer trust. \n\nLooking ahead, the Method for Securing a Private Key has the potential to be widely adopted across various industries and applications. Its decentralized approach aligns with the growing trend of enhanced data protection and privacy. As digital security threats continue to evolve, this technology offers a valuable solution for safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining trust in the digital realm. The investment implications are significant, as it represents a promising opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors in the cybersecurity market.","technical_analysis":"The Method for Securing a Private Key offers a novel approach to private key security by distributing the key across multiple devices. This distributed key management system aims to mitigate the risks associated with storing the entire private key on a single device, making it vulnerable to compromise. The system's architecture involves generating two partial keys: a secret key and an exclusive key. The secret key is derived from an account identifier and a password, while the exclusive key is derived from the secret key and the private key. These keys are stored on separate devices, ensuring that neither key alone is sufficient to reconstruct the private key. \n\nWhen the private key is needed for a cryptographic operation, the two partial keys are combined temporarily to regenerate the complete key. Once the operation is complete, the private key is discarded, minimizing the risk of exposure. The key generation module is responsible for generating the secret and exclusive keys, employing key derivation functions (KDFs) such as PBKDF2 or Argon2. Secure storage modules are used to store the partial keys on the separate devices, potentially leveraging hardware security modules (HSMs) or trusted execution environments (TEEs) for enhanced security. \n\nThe key regeneration module combines the partial keys and regenerates the complete private key when needed, utilizing symmetric encryption algorithms such as AES or ChaCha20. The cryptographic module performs the cryptographic operations, such as digital signing and decryption. The system's performance characteristics are crucial, requiring efficient key generation and regeneration processes to minimize the impact on the user experience. The choice of cryptographic algorithms and the implementation of secure storage mechanisms are critical to the overall security of the system. The Method for Securing a Private Key represents a significant advancement in cryptographic security by providing a more robust and resilient alternative to traditional private key storage methods.","business_analysis":"The Method for Securing a Private Key patent presents a significant market opportunity in the realm of cybersecurity, particularly in the protection of sensitive data on mobile devices. The increasing reliance on mobile devices for financial transactions, secure communications, and digital signatures has amplified the risk of private key compromise. The Method for Securing a Private Key addresses this critical vulnerability by distributing the private key across multiple devices, making it significantly more difficult for attackers to gain unauthorized access. \n\nThe competitive advantages of this technology lie in its distributed key management approach and its ability to integrate with existing public key cryptography systems. The revenue potential is substantial, spanning various industries including mobile banking, e-commerce, healthcare, and government. The business model can be based on licensing the technology to mobile application developers, providing security consulting services, or offering a managed security solution. The strategic positioning of this technology is in the forefront of decentralized security solutions, aligning with the growing demand for enhanced data protection and privacy. \n\nThe ROI projections for this technology are promising, given the increasing cost of data breaches and the growing regulatory pressure for data protection. By adopting this technology, businesses can reduce the risk of financial losses, reputational damage, and legal liabilities. The Method for Securing a Private Key offers a valuable solution for businesses and organizations seeking to enhance the security of their mobile applications and services, protect sensitive information, and maintain customer trust. This technology represents a significant opportunity for investors and entrepreneurs in the cybersecurity market.","faqs":null,"topics":["private key security","key splitting","encryption","cryptography","data protection"],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Method for Securing a Private Key - Patent US-9853813","description":"Discover the innovative Method for Securing a Private Key, splitting your key for enhanced security. Full patent analysis, claims, and technical details.","keywords":["private key security","key splitting","encryption","cryptography","data protection","mobile security","patent","patent US-9853813"]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853813","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853813","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Method for securing a private key\" (US-9853813). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853813","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853813","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9853813","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-30T19:30:11.326Z"}