Secured radio communications system, method, and computer program product

• US 20030131231A1
• Filed: 01/09/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cross, Gary J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,526,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/155
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication

Abstract

A data processing system, method, and product are disclosed for securing radio transmissions utilizing a conventional radio. A conventional radio and a computer system are provided. The computer system is separate and apart from the conventional radio. The conventional radio is capable of receiving an input analog signal from a microphone and then transmitting the input analog signal. The conventional radio is incapable of encrypting the input analog signal. The computer system is coupled between the microphone and the radio such that inputs into the microphone are received first by the computer system. The computer system receives an input from the microphone, encrypts the input utilizing public key encryption, and passes the encrypted input to the radio. The radio then transmits the encrypted input. Thus, radio transmissions from the conventional radio are secured.

Claims

1. A method for securing radio transmissions utilizing a conventional radio, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a conventional radio, said conventional radio being incapable of encrypting or decrypting signals;

providing a computer system coupled between a microphone and said radio, wherein inputs into said radio are received first by said computer system, said computer system being separate and apart from said radio;

receiving, within said computer system, an input analog signal from said microphone;

encrypting, within said computer system, said input analog signal utilizing public key encryption;

passing said encrypted input analog signal from said computer system to said radio; and

transmitting said encrypted input analog signal utilizing said radio, wherein radio transmissions from said radio are secured.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of encrypting, within said computer system, said input analog signal utilizing a key pair, said key pair including a public key and a private key.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of encrypting, within said computer system, said input analog signal utilizing said public key.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, within a Java application executing within said computer system, said input analog signal from said microphone;

encrypting, utilizing said Java application, said input analog signal utilizing public key encryption;

passing said encrypted input analog signal from said Java application to said radio.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of passing said encrypted analog signal from said computer system to a microphone port included in said radio.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a second conventional radio, said second conventional radio being incapable of encrypting or decrypting signals;

providing a second computer system coupled between a speaker and said second radio, wherein outputs from said second radio are received first by said second computer system before being output to said speaker, said second computer system being separate and apart from said second radio;

receiving, within said second computer system, an encrypted output from a speaker port included within said second radio;

decrypting, within said second computer system, said encrypted output utilizing public key encryption; and

outputting said decrypted output from said second computer system to said speaker.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of encrypting, within said computer system, said input analog signal utilizing a key pair, said key pair including a public key and a private key.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of encrypting, within said computer system, said input analog signal utilizing said public key.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining, by said second computer system, said private key of said computer system; and

decrypting said encrypted input analog signal utilizing said private key.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of exchanging said private key between said computer system and said second computer system prior to transmissions of radio signals.

11. A system for securing radio transmissions utilizing a conventional radio, comprising:

a conventional radio, said conventional radio being incapable of encrypting or decrypting signals;

computer system coupled between a microphone and said radio, wherein inputs into said radio are received first by said computer system, said computer system being separate and apart from said radio;

said computer system for receiving an input analog signal from said microphone;

said computer system for encrypting said input analog signal utilizing public key encryption;

said computer system for passing said encrypted input analog signal from said computer system to said radio; and

said radio for transmitting said encrypted input analog signal, wherein radio transmissions from said radio are secured.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising said computer system for encrypting said input analog signal utilizing a key pair, said key pair including a public key and a private key.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising said computer system for encrypting said input analog signal utilizing said public key.

14. The system according to claim 11, further comprising:

Java application executing within said computer system for receiving said input analog signal from said microphone;

said Java application for encrypting said input analog signal utilizing public key encryption;

said Java application for passing said encrypted input analog signal from said Java application to said radio.

15. The system according to claim 11, further comprising said computer system for passing said encrypted analog signal from said computer system to a microphone port included in said radio.

16. The system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a second conventional radio, said second conventional radio being incapable of encrypting or decrypting signals;

a second computer system coupled between a speaker and said second radio, wherein outputs from said second radio are received first by said second computer system before being output to said speaker, said second computer system being separate and apart from said second radio;

said second computer system for receiving an encrypted output from a speaker port included within said second radio;

said second computer system for decrypting said encrypted output utilizing public key encryption; and

said second computer system for outputting said decrypted output from said second computer system to said speaker.

17. The system according to claim 16, further comprising said computer system for encrypting said input analog signal utilizing a key pair, said key pair including a public key and a private key.

18. The system according to claim 17, further comprising said computer system for encrypting said input analog signal utilizing said public key.

19. The system according to claim 18, further comprising:

said second computer system for obtaining said private key of said computer system; and

said second computer system for decrypting said encrypted input analog signal utilizing said private key.

20. The system according to claim 19, further comprising said computer system for exchanging said private key between said computer system and said second computer system prior to transmissions of radio signals.

21. A computer program product executing within a data processing system for securing radio transmissions utilizing a conventional radio, said computer program product comprising the data processing system implemented steps of:

instruction means for providing a conventional radio, said conventional radio being incapable of encrypting or decrypting signals;

instruction means for providing a computer system coupled between a microphone and said radio, wherein inputs into said radio are received first by said computer system, said computer system being separate and apart from said radio;

instruction means for receiving, within said computer system, an input analog signal from said microphone;

instruction means for encrypting, within said computer system, said input analog signal utilizing public key encryption;

instruction means for passing said encrypted input analog signal from said computer system to said radio; and

instruction means for transmitting said encrypted input analog signal utilizing said radio, wherein radio transmissions from said radio are secured.

22. The product according to claim 21, further comprising instruction means for encrypting, within said computer system, said input analog signal utilizing a key pair, said key pair including a public key and a private key.

23. The product according to claim 22, further comprising instruction means for encrypting, within said computer system, said input analog signal utilizing said public key.

24. The product according to claim 21, further comprising:

instruction means for receiving, within a Java application executing within said computer system, said input analog signal from said microphone;

instruction means for encrypting, utilizing said Java application, said input analog signal utilizing public key encryption;

instruction means for passing said encrypted input analog signal from said Java application to said radio.

25. The product according to claim 21, further comprising instruction means for passing said encrypted analog signal from said computer system to a microphone port included in said radio.

26. The product according to claim 21, further comprising:

instruction means for providing a second conventional radio, said second conventional radio being incapable of encrypting or decrypting signals;

instruction means for providing a second computer system coupled between a speaker and said second radio, wherein outputs from said second radio are received first by said second computer system before being output to said speaker, said second computer system being separate and apart from said second radio;

instruction means for receiving, within said second computer system, an encrypted output from a speaker port included within said second radio;

instruction means for decrypting, within said second computer system, said encrypted output utilizing public key encryption; and

instruction means for outputting said decrypted output from said second computer system to said speaker.

27. The product according to claim 26, further comprising instruction means for encrypting, within said computer system, said input analog signal utilizing a key pair, said key pair including a public key and a private key.

28. The product according to claim 27, further comprising instruction means for encrypting, within said computer system, said input analog signal utilizing said public key.

29. The product according to claim 28, further comprising:

instruction means for obtaining, by said second computer system, said private key of said computer system; and

instruction means for decrypting said encrypted input analog signal utilizing said private key.

30. The product according to claim 29, further comprising instruction means for exchanging said private key between said computer system and said second computer system prior to transmissions of radio signals.