Line encryption over ethernet cable

1 . A cable for securing communications, the cable comprising:

a plurality of conductors spanning a length of the cable from a first end of the cable to a second end of the cable;

a first cable connector plug electrically coupled to the conductors at the first end of the cable, the first cable connector plug comprising a first energy storage device and a first cryptography processor programmed with a key; and

a second cable connector plug electrically coupled to the conductors at the second end of the cable, the second cable connector plug comprising a second energy storage device and a second cryptography processor programmed with the key,

wherein:

the first energy storage device is configured to power the first cryptography processor to receive unencrypted data from a first computer that the first cable connector plug is plugged into, encrypt the unencrypted data using the key to produce transmission data, transmit the transmission data through the first cable connector plug over the cable to the second cable connector plug, and to decrypt reception data received by the first cable connector plug over the cable from the second cable connector plug and encrypted by the second cable connector plug with the key, and transmit the decrypted reception data to the first computer, and

the second energy storage device is configured to power the second cryptography processor to receive unencrypted data from a second computer that the second cable connector plug is plugged into, encrypt the unencrypted data using the key to produce transmission data, transmit the transmission data through the second cable connector plug over the cable to the first cable connector plug, and to decrypt reception data received by the second cable connector plug over the cable from the first cable connector plug and encrypted by the first cable connector plug with the key, and transmit the decrypted reception data to the second computer.

2 . The cable of claim 1 , wherein the first cable connector plug and the second cable connector plug are RJ45 connectors for facilitating ethernet communications over the cable between a first computer-based device connected to the first cable connector plug and a second computer-based device connected to the second cable connector plug.

3 . The cable of claim 1 , wherein the first energy storage device is a first capacitor, and the second energy storage device is a second capacitor.

4 . The cable of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first power harvesting circuit configured to:

harvest power from data signals transmitted through the first cable connector plug, by rectifying the data signals to produce a rectified signal, and using the rectified signal to charge the first energy storage device, or

harvest power from continuously high and low voltage signals transmitted through the first cable connector plug, by using the continuously high and low voltage signals to charge the first energy storage device; and

a second power harvesting circuit configured to:

harvest power from data signals transmitted through the second cable connector plug, by rectifying the data signals to produce a rectified signal, and using the rectified signal to charge the second energy storage device, or

harvest power from continuously high and low voltage signals transmitted through the second cable connector plug, by using the continuously high and low voltage signals to charge the second energy storage device.

5 . The cable of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first universal serial bus (USB) connector coupled to the first cable connector plug, the first USB connector is configured to provide power for charging the first energy storage device; and

a second USB connector coupled to the second cable connector plug, the second USB connector is configured to provide power for charging the second energy storage device.

6 . The cable of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first power management processor configured to control at least one of the first cryptography processor or transmission of the transmission data based on a charge level of the first energy storage device; and

a second power management processor configured to control at least one of the second cryptography processor or transmission of the transmission data based on a charge level of the second energy storage device.

7 . The cable of claim 1 ,

wherein the first energy storage device and the first cryptography processor are mounted to a first printed circuit board (PCB) inside of the first cable connector plug, and

wherein the second energy storage device and the second cryptography processor are mounted to a second PCB inside of the second cable connector plug.

8 . The cable of claim 1 ,

wherein the first cryptography processor and the second cryptography processor are both configured to store a common key and utilize symmetric key cryptography to encrypt the transmission data and decrypt the reception data.

9 . A method for securing communications over a cable comprising a first cable connector plug and a second cable connector plug, the method comprising:

powering the first cable connector plug programmed with a key;

powering the second cable connector plug programmed with the key;

receiving, by the first cable connector plug, unencrypted data from a first computer that the first cable connector plug is plugged into;

encrypting, by the first cable connector plug using the key, the unencrypted data to produce transmission data for transmission through the first cable connector plug over the cable to the second cable connector plug;

decrypting, by the first cable connector plug using the key, reception data received by the first cable connector plug over the cable from the second cable connector plug and encrypted by the second cable connector plug with the key;

transmitting, by the first cable connector plug, the decrypted reception data to the first computer;

receiving, by the second cable connector plug, unencrypted data from a second computer that the second cable connector plug is plugged into;

encrypting, by the second cable connector plug using the key, the unencrypted data to produce transmission data for transmission through the second cable connector plug over the cable to the first cable connector plug;

decrypting, by the second cable connector plug using the key, reception data received by the second cable connector plug over the cable from the first cable connector plug and encrypted by the first cable connector plug with the key; and

transmitting, by the second cable connector plug, the decrypted reception data to the second computer.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

controlling the encrypting of the transmission data through the first cable connector plug based on a charge level of a first energy storage device for powering the first cable connector plug; and

controlling the encrypting of the transmission data through the second cable connector plug based on a charge level of a second energy storage device for powering the second cable connector plug.

11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

harvesting power from data signals transmitted through the first cable connector plug to power the first cable connector plug; and

harvesting power from data signals transmitted through the second cable connector plug to power the second cable connector plug.

12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

storing, by the first cable connector plug and the second cable connector plug, a common key; and

utilizing, by the first cable connector plug and the second cable connector plug, symmetric key cryptography to encrypt the transmission data and decrypt the reception data.