Encrypted human interface keyboard
Systems and methods for sending and receiving communications securely between a human interface keyboard and a computer terminal are described. In some embodiments, the keyboard includes a human interface display and a processor to encrypt keystrokes entered by a user. Synchronization between the keyboard and the computer terminal is maintained by the devices, by encrypting and decrypting a signal according to the same randomized negotiated ASCII CharSet, which is generated by the computer terminal.
1. A system for securely transmitting a communication between a keyboard and a computing device during a communication session, the system comprising:
the keyboard, which is configured to receive keystroke input from a user, the keyboard including:
one or more key switches each associated with a key contacted by the user during a keystroke, wherein a key switch is operable to generate a keystroke signal;
a processor operable to:
receive, from the computing device, a session token associated with the communication session that identifies a session ID for the communication session and a key map specific to the communication session,
encrypt generated keystroke signals according to the key map, and
transmit the encrypted keystroke signals; and
a display device operable to display session data associated with the communication session that includes the user,
wherein the displayed session data includes data identifying the key map, data identifying the user, and data identifying the session ID for the communication session.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device includes:
a processor operable to decrypt the encrypted keystroke signals transmitted from the keyboard to the computing device using the key map; and
a display device operable to display the decrypted keystroke signals.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the key map is a randomized ASCII key map.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the keyboard transmits the encrypted keystroke signals to the computing device over a wired serial connection.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the keyboard transmits the encrypted keystroke signals to the computing device over a wireless serial connection.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the keyboard is a physical keyboard in serial communication with the computing device.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the session data includes a key ID, the session ID, and a user ID.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor accesses the key map via firmware contained by the keyboard.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
transmit the data identifying the user to the computing device; and
receive the session token from the computing device that is based on the data identifying the user, wherein the session token includes the session data.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
transmit the data identifying the user to the computing device; and
receive a session token from the computing device that is based on the data identifying the user,
wherein the session token includes the session data.
11. A keyboard, comprising:
one or more key switches each associated with a key that is contacted by a user during a keystroke, wherein a key switch is operable to generate a keystroke signal;
a processor operable to:
receive, from a computing device associated with the keyboard, a session token associated with a communication session for the user,
wherein the session token identifies a session ID for the communication session and a key map specific to the communication session,
encrypt generated keystroke signals according to the key map, and transmit the encrypted keystroke signals to the computing device associated with the keyboard; and
a display device operable to display session data associated with the communication session that includes the user of the keyboard,
wherein the displayed session data includes data identifying the key map, data identifying the user, and data identifying the session ID for the communication session.
12. The keyboard of claim 11 , wherein the key map is a randomized ASCII key map.
13. The keyboard of claim 11 , wherein the keyboard is configured to transmit the encrypted keystroke signals to the associated computing device over a wired serial connection.
14. The keyboard of claim 11 , wherein the keyboard is configured to transmit the encrypted keystroke signals to the associated computing device over a wireless serial connection.
15. The keyboard of claim 11 , wherein the keyboard is a physical keyboard in serial communication with the computing device.
16. The keyboard of claim 11 , wherein the session data includes a key ID, the session ID, and a user ID.
17. The keyboard of claim 11 , wherein the processor accesses the key map via firmware contained by the keyboard.