Transmitting/receiving apparatus and a transmitting/receiving method

• US 20050160282A1
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hirata, Shinichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,143,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/189
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

A security apparatus and a security method for controlling electric devices by use of electronic mails. A modem receives an electronic mail sent from a sending side and stores the received electronic mail into a RAM of a controller. A CPU extracts certification information encrypted by a secret key of a user of the sending side and decrypts the certification information by use of a public key. Based on the decrypted information, the CPU determines whether the user of the sending side is authentic or not. Only when the user is found authentic, the CPU extracts a control command from the received electronic mail and stores the extracted control command into a RAM. Then, the CPU transmits an electronic mail to the sending side for confirming content of the control. If an electronic mail for approving the confirmation is returned from the sending side, the CPU extracts second certification information obtained by encrypting information different from that mentioned above, determines again whether the sender of the electronic mail is authentic, and, if the sender is found authentic, executes the control command received before.

Claims

1. A receiving apparatus comprising:

a receiving means for receiving an electronic mail transmitted through a network;

a first extracting means for extracting encrypted certification information inserted in said electronic mail received by said receiving means;

a second extracting means for extracting a control command inserted in said electronic mail received by said receiving means for controlling a predetermined electric device;

a decrypting means for decrypting said certification information extracted by said first extracting means;

a certifying means for certifying, by referencing the certification information decrypted by said decrypting means, whether a sender of said electronic mail is an authentic user; and

a storing means for storing, if said sender of said electronic mail has been certified by said certifying means to be an authentic user, said control command extracted by said second extracting means.