Patent attributes
Apparatus and method for generating a traffic encryption key includes generating a traffic encryption key for encrypting data transmitted as part of a service, the traffic encryption key having a validity equal to a traffic encryption key validity time period; checking whether a period for the service is longer than the traffic encryption key validity time period; and if the period of the service is longer than the traffic encryption key validity time period, ascertaining a residual period which indicates by what period the service is longer than the traffic encryption key validity time period of the traffic encryption key; generating a residual traffic encryption key which is used for encrypting data transmitted as part of a service; ascertaining a residual traffic encryption key validity time period which indicates for how long the residual traffic encryption key is valid; and associating the residual traffic encryption key validity time period with the residual traffic encryption key.
