Simple encrypted transmission system suitable for intermittent signals
View Patent ↗A signal transmitted from a first device to a second device is encrypted using an encryption key generated from a preceding part of the signal itself. The signal is decrypted in the second device using a decryption key generated from a preceding part of the received and decrypted signal. This encryption method provides effective privacy protection, because the encryption and decryption keys are constantly changing. Since the transmitted signal provides its own encryption and decryption keys, the method is inexpensive to implement, and can be used in systems such as packet transmission systems that transmit signals intermittently.
1. A system for transmitting a signal from a first device to a second device, the system including a transmitting section disposed in the first device and a receiving section disposed in the second device,
the transmitting section comprising:
an encryption key generator for generating an encryption key from said signal;
a memory for temporarily storing the encryption key, thereby delaying the encryption key with respect to said signal;
an encryption circuit for encrypting said signal by use of the delayed encryption key; and
a transmitting circuit for transmitting the encrypted signal to the second device; the receiving section comprising;
a receiving circuit for receiving the encrypted signal from the first device;
a decryption circuit for decrypting the encrypted signal by use of a delayed decryption key;
a decryption key generator for generating a decryption key from the decrypted signal; and
a memory for temporarily storing the decryption key, thereby delaying the decrypted signal and obtaining the delayed decryption key, wherein:
the receiving circuit in the receiving section in the second device detects transmission errors in the encrypted signal;
the second device has an initialization control signal generator for generating an initialization control signal when the receiving circuit detects a transmission error in the encrypted signal;
the second device also has a transmitting circuit for transmitting the initialization control signal to the first device; and
the first device has a receiving circuit for receiving the initialization control signal and thereupon sending an initialization command signal to the encryption circuit, the encryption key generator, and the memory in the transmitting section.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first device has an initialization control signal generator for generating an initialization reply signal when the receiving circuit receives the initialization control signal;
the transmitting circuit transmits the initialization reply signal to the receiving circuit in the second device; and
upon receiving the initialization reply signal, the receiving circuit sends an initialization command signal to the decryption circuit, the decryption key generator, and the memory in the receiving section.
3. A method of transmitting a signal from a first device to a second device, comprising the steps of:
generating an encryption key from said signal;
delaying the encryption key with respect to said signal, thus obtaining a delayed encryption key;
encrypting said signal by use of the delayed encryption key, thus obtaining an encrypted signal;
transmitting the encrypted signal from the first device to the second device;
decrypting the encrypted signal by use of a delayed decryption key, thus obtaining a decrypted signal;
generating a decryption key from the decrypted signal;
delaying the decryption key with respect to the decrypted signal, thus obtaining the delayed decryption key;
detecting a transmission error in the encrypted signal at the second device;
transmitting an initialization control signal from the second device to the first device when the transmission error is detected; and
initializing the encryption key when the first device receives the initialization control signal.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:
transmitting an initialization reply signal from the first device to the second device when the first device receives the initialization control signal; and
initializing the decryption key when the second device receives the initialization reply signal.