Communication information transmitted in the broadband communication
system may be in a packet format and secured using encryption techniques, for example
encryption software, including a means for providing an initial security key and
updated security keys to the various pieces of communication equipment located
throughout the broadband communication system. When communication equipment, for
example a gateway, is first registered with, for example, an IP central station,
the IP central station assigns an initial encryption key to the gateway that is
assigned and retained by a server, for example a call manager server, and the gateway
(e.g., broadband residential gateway. This initial encryption key may be used to
establish a secure two way communication between two pieces of communication equipment
as an originating point communication equipment and a terminating point communication equipment.
