Apple Inc.
TIME-BASED ENCRYPTION KEY DERIVATION

Abstract:

Techniques are disclosed securely communicating traffic over a network. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a first circuit having a local clock configured to maintain a local time value. The first circuit is configured to determine a synchronized time value based on the local time value, the synchronized time value being an expected time value of a reference clock. The first circuit is further configured to generate a first encryption key by calculating a key derivation function based on the synchronized time value and encrypt a portion of a packet using the first encryption key, the portion of the packet being to be communicated to a second circuit. In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a first network node coupled to the first circuit and configured to communicate the packet to a second network node coupled to the second circuit and to include the synchronized time value in the packet.