Electronic unit provided in a microcircuit card and including cryptographic means for high-speed data processing
View Patent ↗An electronic unit includes a processor (P), an input-output device ( 18 ) and a cryptographic device ( 14 ). The unit is directly connected by two-way data transmission ( 20 ) set up between the input-output device and the cryptographic device, the electronic unit being integrated in a microcircuit card.
1. A cryptographic processing method within an electronic entity comprising a processor, a data input-output element and a cryptographic element, said method comprising the steps of
identifying within said electronic unit a sequence to be subjected to cryptographic processing in incoming data received by said input-output element;
setting up a direct bidirectional data transmission connection between said input-output element and said cryptographic element so as to route said sequence directly from said input-output element to the cryptographic element;
sending from the processor to the cryptographic element an instruction for initiating cryptographic processing on said routed sequence with keys sent by the processor according to an encryption or decryption mode of operation selected by the processor; and
applying said cryptographic processing to said sequence according to said information received from said processor, wherein decryption key(s) never leave the card.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said identifying step is applied by said input-output element.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said identifying step is applied by said processor on a message transmitted by the data input-output element.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sequence to be subjected to cryptographic processing comprise encrypted data to be encrypted/decrypted in real time, such encrypted data being representative of sound.
5. A microcircuit card, comprising an electronic unit comprising:
a data input-output element comprising a UART send-receive unit,
a cryptographic element comprising a memory register,
a processor connected to the data input-output element and to the cryptographic element, and configured, when detecting information to be subjected to a cryptographic processing in a message sent by said input-output element, to set up a direct connection bidirectional data transmission connection between the data input-output element and the memory register of the cryptographic element for routing such information directly from the UART to the cryptographic element, and to send to this cryptographic element an instruction and a key for initiating cryptographic processing of this information according to an encryption or decryption mode selected by the processor, the key(s) never leaving the card, whereby information received by the data input-output element is enabled by the processor to be routed by the UART send-receive unit directly to the cryptographic element where it is subjected to a cryptographic processing defined by the processor.
6. The microcircuit card of claim 5 , wherein the microcircuit card constitutes a device for decrypting encrypted data in real time, such encrypted data being representative of sound.
7. The microcircuit card of claim 5 , including a processing element adapted to effect encryption or decryption processing on a digital data stream.
8. The microcircuit card of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to send, in response to said message, the decryption key(s) to the cryptographic element and a message to the input/output element in order to route to the cryptographic element data packets recognized between successive keywords, and the decryption key(s) are provided independent of the data.
9. A microcircuit card, comprising an electronic unit comprising:
a cryptographic element comprising a memory register,
a data input-output element comprising a UART send-receive unit, configured to analyze information received from the exterior and recognize information to be subjected to a cryptographic processing, and to set up a direct bidirectional data transmission connection with the memory register whereby said information to be subjected to a cryptographic processing is routed to the memory register,
a processor connected to the data input-output element and to the cryptographic element, and configured to send to the cryptographic element a key, to select an encryption or decryption mode of operation and to send to this cryptographic element an instruction for initiating cryptographic processing according to a selected encryption or decryption mode, after the date input-output element has recognized the information to be subjected to the cryptographic processing, the key never leaving the card, whereby information recognized to be subjected to a cryptographic processing is routed directly to the cryptographic element where it is subjected to a cryptographic processing defined by the processor.
10. The microcircuit card of claim 9 , wherein said send-receive unit comprises a device for routing data to said cryptographic element.
11. The microcircuit card of claim 9 , wherein said input-output element is dedicated to certain information intended to be processed by said cryptographic element, other input-output elements being connected to said processor for processing other information.
12. The microcircuit card of claim 9 , wherein the microcircuit card constitutes a device for decrypting encrypted data in real time, such encrypted data being representative of sound.
13. A microcircuit card, comprising:
a processor,
a data input-output element comprising a UART send-receive unit and connected to the processor, and
a cryptographic element comprising a memory register connected to said processor connected to the processor, said cryptographic element being further connected to said data input-output element by a direct bidirectional data transmission connection between said UART send-receive unit of the input-output element and said memory register of the cryptographic element,
the processor and the data input-output being configured so that, when information on data to be subjected to a cryptographic processing is recognized in the card, a direct transmission of said data is then set up through said direct connection for transmitting said data directly to said cryptographic element, and at least a key and an instruction are sent by the processor to the co-processor for initiating cryptographic processing of said data according to a selection mode of encryption or decryption, key(s) never leaving the card,
whereby said data directly transmitted to said cryptographic element is subjected in said cryptographic element to a cryptographic processing defined by said processor.
14. The microcircuit card of claim 13 , wherein said UART send-receive unit comprises an element configured for recognizing said data to be subjected to a cryptographic processing and for routing this data directly to said cryptographic element.
15. The microcircuit card of claim 13 , wherein said processor is adapted to detect a message intended to undergo cryptographic processing and, as a consequence, to set up said direct connection for the time necessary to receive and/or send back the data processed by the cryptographic element.
16. The microcircuit of claim 13 , wherein said cryptographic element is adapted to decrypting encrypted data in real time.
17. The microcircuit card of claim 13 , including a processing element configured for processing a digital data stream.
18. The microcircuit card of claim 17 , wherein said processing element is adapted to process in real time digital data representative of sound.
19. The microcircuit card of claim 13 , wherein said UART send-receive unit is adapted to exchange with external devices in accordance with either an ISO7816 or USB protocol.
20. The microcircuit card of claim 13 , wherein the microcircuit card constitutes a device for decrypting encrypted data in real time, such encrypted data being representative of sound.