A conference key multicasting scheme using knapsack and secret sharing

Abstract

In this paper, a conference key multicasting scheme is proposed and analyzed. Bach network user Ui is associated with a key pair (xi, yi), where xi is a secret key and yi is a public key. A sealed lock is constructed from the public keys so that conference key can be enciphered by a chairperson and broadcasted to users in the network system, while only the authorized participants can recover the conference key. The packed sum property aspect of the well known knapsack problem together with the concept of secret sharing is utilized to accomplish the construction of a sealed lock.