9 March 1998, MicroPatent: Escrow key management system for accessing encrypted data with portable cryptographic modules (Assignee -- Lucent Technologies Inc.) Abstract: A cryptographic module, such as a smartcard, is designed to a) store decrypting software programs, and information indicative of predetermined conditions under which an escrow agent is enabled to use the software programs stored on the module to decrypt encrypted data files, and b) records for audit purposes, information indicating every time the software programs are used for decryption. Ex Claim Text: A system for managing access to one or more encrypted data files stored in a computer system, said system comprising: a file of the computer system which associates a cryptographic key with a cryptographic module that is subsequently assigned to a selected user; a memory of the cryptographic module which stores a) access information allowing use of the cryptographic module by the selected user under specific conditions, said access information including the cryptographic key, a corresponding cryptographic passphrase and a software program to decrypt the one or more encrypted data files; means responsive to receiving at said cryptographic module said corresponding cryptographic passphrase from said selected user, for a) permitting decryption of said one or more data flies when the specific conditions are met, and b) recording in said memory transactional information associated with said decryption, and b) uses said cryptographic module for the purpose of decrypting one or more of said data files; and means for querying at a later time said cryptographic module to retrieve said transactional information recorded on said memory. Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc. Patent Number: 5721777 Issue Date: 1998 02 24 Inventor(s): Blaze, Matthew A. If you would like to purchase a copy of this patent, please call MicroPatent at 800-648-6787.