US5802175A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer file backup encryption system and method
Assignee: Kara Technology Inc US
•
Filing: 1996-09-18
•
Granted: 1998-09-01
•
Expires: 2016-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for generating, storing and retrieving cryptographic keys to be utilized in a processor-based system. In one embodiment, a Touch Memory ("TM") containing unique information is used as a portable memory to interface with a processor-based system wherein a cryptographic key generation program utilizes the unique information in the generation of cryptographic key sets. The generated encryption and decryption keys are stored on at least one such portable memory. Additionally, the encryption key is stored in the processor-based system. The presence of at least one specific portable memory is necessary at the time of decryption of data encrypted utilizing an encryption key associated with a decryption key, or portion thereof, stored on the specific portable memory.
Inventors
- 👤 Salim G. Kara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 01:16
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/70; G06F21/71; G06F21/72; G06F21/60; G06F21/62; G06F21/6209; G06F21/78; G06F21/79; H; H04; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/08; H04L9/0894; H04L9/0897; G06F2211/00; G06F2211/007; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2153
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A processor-based system for generating, storing, and retrieving cryptographic keys, said system comprising: means for removably coupling a portable memory to said system thereby providing a coupled portable memory, said coupling means providing data communication between said coupled portable memory and said system; means for reading information from a portable memory removably coupled to said system thereby providing read information, said read information being unique to said coupled portable memory; means for selecting information within said system; means for combining said read information with said selected information, said combined information being a single data string; means for generating at least one cryptographic key set utilizing said combined information, said cryptographic key set comprising at least one encryption key and at least one decryption key; means for storing said cryptographic key set in said coupled portable memory removably coupled to said system; means for storing said encryption key in a data storage means within said system; means for encrypting selected information utilizing said encryption key; means for reading said decryption key from said coupled portable memory removably coupled to said system; and means for decrypting said encrypted information utilizing said decryption key read from said coupled portable memory.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A processor-based system for generating, storing, and retrieving cryptographic keys, said system comprising: means for removably coupling a portable memory to said system thereby providing a coupled portable memory, said coupling means providing data communication between said coupled portable memory and said system; means for reading information from a portable memory removably coupled to said system thereby providing read information, said read information being unique to said coupled portable memory; means for selecting information within said system; means for combining said read information with said selected information, said combined information being a single data string; means for generating at least one cryptographic key set utilizing said combined information, said cryptographic key set comprising at least one encryption key and at least one decryption key; means for storing said cryptographic key set in said coupled portable memory removably coupled to said system; means for storing said encryption key in a data storage means within said system; means for encrypting selected information utilizing said encryption key; means for reading said decryption key from said coupled portable memory removably coupled to said system; and means for decrypting said encrypted information utilizing said decryption key read from said coupled portable memory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for storing said cryptographic key set comprises: means for storing said cryptographic key set in multiple ones of said portable memory, said multiple ones of said portable memory being removably coupled to said system sequentially.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for storing said cryptographic key set comprises: means for dividing said generated decryption key into a plurality of fragments, said plurality of fragments being capable of unification to form said generated decryption key; and means for storing said plurality of fragments in a plurality of said portable memory, ones of said plurality of said portable memory each storing only a portion of said plurality of fragments, said plurality of said portable memory being removably coupled to said system sequentially.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said means for reading said decryption key comprises: means for reading said plurality of fragments from said plurality of said portable memory, ones of said plurality of said portable memory each storing only a portion of said decryption key, said plurality of said portable memory being removably coupled to said system sequentially; and means for unifying said read plurality of fragments into said decryption key.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising: means for storing said encrypted data in a remote storage apparatus, said remote storage apparatus being in temporary data communication with said system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising: means for reading said encrypted data from a remote storage apparatus, said remote storage apparatus being in temporary data communication with said system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for reading said decryption key comprises: means for reading said generated decryption key from a second processor-based system, said second system being in data communication with said system, said portable memory being removably coupled to said second system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said portable memory is a TM button.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
177 words
In combination with a processor-based system, a method for generating, storing, and retrieving encryption and decryption keys, said method comprising the steps of: removably coupling a portable memory device to said system thereby providing a removably coupled portable memory device so as to provide data communication between said removably coupled portable memory device and said system; reading information from said removably coupled portable memory device, said read information being unique to said portable memory device; selecting information within said system; combining said read information with said selected information, said combined information being a single data string; generating at least one cryptographic key set utilizing said combined information, said cryptographic key set comprising at least one encryption key and at least one decryption key; storing said decryption key in said removably coupled portable memory device; storing said encryption key in a data storage means within said system; encrypting selected information utilizing said encryption key; reading said decryption key from said portable memory device; and decrypting said encrypted information utilizing said decryption key read from said portable memory device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
177 words
In combination with a processor-based system, a method for generating, storing, and retrieving encryption and decryption keys, said method comprising the steps of: removably coupling a portable memory device to said system thereby providing a removably coupled portable memory device so as to provide data communication between said removably coupled portable memory device and said system; reading information from said removably coupled portable memory device, said read information being unique to said portable memory device; selecting information within said system; combining said read information with said selected information, said combined information being a single data string; generating at least one cryptographic key set utilizing said combined information, said cryptographic key set comprising at least one encryption key and at least one decryption key; storing said decryption key in said removably coupled portable memory device; storing said encryption key in a data storage means within said system; encrypting selected information utilizing said encryption key; reading said decryption key from said portable memory device; and decrypting said encrypted information utilizing said decryption key read from said portable memory device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said step of storing said decryption key comprises the step of: storing said decryption key in multiple ones of said portable memory device, said multiple ones of said portable memory device being removably coupled to said system sequentially.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said step of storing said decryption key comprises the steps of: dividing said generated decryption key into a plurality of fragments, said plurality of fragments being capable of unification to form said generated decryption key; and storing said plurality of fragments in a plurality of said portable memory devices, ones of said plurality of portable memory devices each storing only a portion of said plurality of fragments, said plurality of said portable memory devices being removably coupled to said system sequentially.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system as recited in claim 11 wherein said step of reading a decryption key comprises the steps of: reading said plurality of fragments from said plurality of said portable memory devices, ones of said plurality of said portable memory devices each storing only a portion of said decryption key, said plurality of said memory devices being removably coupled to said system sequentially; and unifying said read plurality of fragments into said decryption key.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising the step of: storing said encrypted data in a remote storage apparatus, said remote storage apparatus being in temporary data communication with said system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising the step of: reading said encrypted data from a remote storage apparatus, said remote storage apparatus being in temporary data communication with said system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said step of reading said decryption key comprises the step of: reading said generated decryption key from a second processor-based system, said second system being in data communication with said system, said second system being removably coupled to said portable memory device.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
122 words
A system for generating and storing cryptographic keys, said system comprising: means for removably coupling a portable memory device to said system to provide a coupled portable memory device when a portable memory is coupled to said coupling means, said coupling means providing data communication between said coupled portable memory device and said system; means for reading information from said coupled portable memory device, said read information being unique to said coupled portable memory device; means for generating at least one cryptographic key set utilizing said read information, said cryptographic key set comprising at least one encryption key and at least one decryption key; and means for storing said decryption key in said coupled portable memory device removably coupled to said system.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
122 words
A system for generating and storing cryptographic keys, said system comprising: means for removably coupling a portable memory device to said system to provide a coupled portable memory device when a portable memory is coupled to said coupling means, said coupling means providing data communication between said coupled portable memory device and said system; means for reading information from said coupled portable memory device, said read information being unique to said coupled portable memory device; means for generating at least one cryptographic key set utilizing said read information, said cryptographic key set comprising at least one encryption key and at least one decryption key; and means for storing said decryption key in said coupled portable memory device removably coupled to said system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as recited in claim 16 wherein said portable memory device is a TM button.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system as recited in claim 16 wherein said means for storing said decryption key comprises: means for storing said decryption key in multiple ones of said portable memory device, said multiple ones of said portable memory device being removably coupled to said system sequentially.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
91 words
The system as recited in claim 16 wherein said means for storing said decryption key comprises: means for dividing said generated decryption key into a plurality of fragments, said plurality of fragments being capable of unification to form said generated decryption key; and means for storing said plurality of fragments in a plurality of said portable memory devices, ones of said plurality of said portable memory devices each storing only a portion of said plurality of fragments, said plurality of said portable memory devices being removably coupled to said system sequentially.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system as recited in claim 16 further comprising: means for associating said at least one encryption key with said at least one decryption key of said cryptographic key set.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
118 words
A system for retrieving a decryption key pertaining to data previously encrypted with an encryption key, said decryption key and encryption key comprising a cryptographic key set, said system comprising: a processor; means for removably coupling a portable memory device to said processor, wherein a removably coupled portable memory device is provided when a portable memory device is coupled to said coupling means, wherein said portable memory device includes a decryption key generated and stored in the portable memory device during a key generation process completed before the portable memory device is removably coupled to said processor for retrieving the decryption key; and means for reading said previously stored decryption key from said removably coupled portable memory device.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
118 words
A system for retrieving a decryption key pertaining to data previously encrypted with an encryption key, said decryption key and encryption key comprising a cryptographic key set, said system comprising: a processor; means for removably coupling a portable memory device to said processor, wherein a removably coupled portable memory device is provided when a portable memory device is coupled to said coupling means, wherein said portable memory device includes a decryption key generated and stored in the portable memory device during a key generation process completed before the portable memory device is removably coupled to said processor for retrieving the decryption key; and means for reading said previously stored decryption key from said removably coupled portable memory device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as recited in claim 21 wherein said portable memory device is a TM button.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system as recited in claim 21 wherein said means for reading a decryption key comprises: means for reading said decryption key from a second system, said second system being in data communication with said system, said portable memory device being removably coupled to said second system.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system as recited in claim 21 wherein said means for reading a decryption key comprises: means for reading a plurality of fragments from a plurality of said portable memory devices, said plurality of said portable memory devices each storing only a portion of said plurality of fragments, said plurality of said portable memory devices being removably coupled to said system sequentially; and means for unifying said read plurality of fragments into a decryption key.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system as recited in claim 24 wherein said data string comprises information identifying a particular previously stored decryption key with which to decrypt said encrypted data.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as recited in claim 24 wherein said data string comprises information identifying an encryption key utilized to encrypt said encrypted data.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system as recited in claim 21 wherein said means for reading a decryption key further comprises means for reading a data string associated with said encrypted data, said data string containing information regarding a cryptographic key set utilized to encrypt said encrypted data.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for retrieving a decryption key pertaining to data previously encrypted with an encryption key, said decryption key and encryption key comprising a cryptographic key set, said system comprising: a processor; means for removably coupling a portable memory device to said processor, wherein a removably coupled portable memory device is provided when a portable memory device is coupled to said coupling means; and means for reading a previously stored decryption key from said removably coupled portable memory device, said previously stored decryption key having been generated as part of a cryptographic key set based in part from data unique to a removably coupled memory device.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for retrieving a decryption key pertaining to data previously encrypted with an encryption key, said decryption key and encryption key comprising a cryptographic key set, said system comprising: a processor; means for removably coupling a portable memory device to said processor, wherein a removably coupled portable memory device is provided when a portable memory device is coupled to said coupling means; and means for reading a previously stored decryption key from said removably coupled portable memory device, said previously stored decryption key having been generated as part of a cryptographic key set based in part from data unique to a removably coupled memory device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as recited in claim 28 wherein said portable memory device is a TM button.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system as recited in claim 28 wherein said means for reading a decryption key comprises: means for reading said decryption key from a second system, said second system being in data communication with said system, said portable memory device being removably coupled to said second system.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system as recited in claim 28 wherein said means for reading a decryption key further comprises means for reading a data string associated with said encrypted data, said data string containing information regarding a cryptographic key set utilized to encrypt said encrypted data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4450535A
Cited
US4757532A
Cited
US4961142A
Cited
US5008936A
Cited
US5111504A
Cited
US5131040A
Cited
US5265164A
Cited
US5392351A
Cited
US5363447A
Cited
US5416840A
Cited
US5604801A
Cited
US5675649A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-31 | 2002-03-02 | 2002-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-31 | 2006-03-02 | 2006-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-31 | 2010-03-02 | 2010-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |