Random number generating and sharing system, encrypted communication apparatus, and random number generating and sharing method for use therein

• US 20050172129A1
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Tajima, Akio, Suzuki, Shuji
• Granted Patent: US 7,899,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/171
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0662 with particular pseudorandom sequence generator
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0844 with user authentication or key authentication, e.g. ElGamal, MTI, MQV-Menezes-Qu-Vanstone protocol or Diffie-Hellman protocols using implicitly-certified keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0852 Quantum cryptography transmission systems employing electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. light, infrared H04B10/00; wavelength-division multiplex systems H04J14/02; WDM arrangements H04J14/03

Abstract

A sender'"'"'s encrypted communication apparatus and a recipient'"'"'s encrypted communication apparatus autonomously generate keys for encryption with respective key generators, store the generated encryption keys in respective encryption key memories, and store part of the generated encryption keys in respective authentication memories. The keys stored in the authentication memories are used for mutual authentication when the sender'"'"'s encrypted communication apparatus and a recipient'"'"'s encrypted communication apparatus are connected to each other.

Claims

1. A random number generating and sharing system for generating and sharing a random number between a sender terminal and a recipient terminal, comprising:

holding means for holding part of a random number generated and shared in a past between said sender terminal and said recipient terminal;

wherein when said sender terminal and said recipient terminal which have been disconnected are connected again to each other, each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal confirms the part of random number held by said holding means.

2. A random number generating and sharing system according to claim 1, further comprising a quantum encryption key distribution system for generating and sharing said random number.

3. A random number generating and sharing system according to claim 2, wherein said quantum encryption key distribution system comprises a “

plug &

play”

system.

4. A random number generating and sharing system according to claim 2, wherein said quantum encryption key distribution system generates and shares said random number according to BB84 (Bennett Brassard 84) protocol.

5. A random number generating and sharing system according to claim 1, wherein the random number held by said holding means is discarded after each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal has confirmed the part of the random number.

6. A random number generating and sharing system according to claim 1, wherein after the part of the random number generated and shared between said sender terminal and said recipient terminal is held by said holding means, said sender terminal and said recipient terminal are installed at a spaced interval represented by at least a predetermined distance from each other, and thereafter each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal confirms the part of the random number held by said holding means.

7. A random number generating and sharing system according to claim 1, wherein the random number held by said holding means can be used when each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal confirms the part of the random number and also when said sender terminal and said recipient terminal perform encrypted communications with each other.

8. A random number generating and sharing system according to claim 1, wherein said sender terminal generates and shares random numbers between itself and a plurality of said recipient terminals.

9. A random number generating and sharing system for generating and sharing a random number between a sender terminal and a recipient terminal and using said random number as an encryption key, comprising:

holding means for holding part of a random number generated and shared in a past between said sender terminal and said recipient terminal;

wherein when said sender terminal and said recipient terminal which have been disconnected are connected again to each other, each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal confirms the part of random number held by said holding means, and the generation of said encryption key is resumed when each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal confirms the part of random number.

10. A random number generating and sharing system according to claim 9, further comprising a quantum encryption key distribution system for generating and sharing said encryption key.

11. A random number generating and sharing system according to claim 10, wherein said quantum encryption key distribution system comprises a “

plug &

play”

system.

12. A random number generating and sharing system according to claim 10, wherein said quantum encryption key distribution system generates and shares said encryption key according to BB84 (Bennett Brassard 84) protocol.

13. A random number generating and sharing system according to claim 9, wherein the random number held by said holding means is discarded after each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal has confirmed the part of the random number.

14. A random number generating and sharing system according to claim 9, wherein after the part of the random number generated and shared between said sender terminal and said recipient terminal is held by said holding means, said sender terminal and said recipient terminal are installed at a spaced interval represented by at least a predetermined distance from each other, and thereafter each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal confirms the part of the random number held by said holding means.

15. A random number generating and sharing system according to claim 9, wherein the random number held by said holding means can be used when each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal confirms the part of the random number and also when said sender terminal and said recipient terminal perform encrypted communications with each other.

16. A random number generating and sharing system according to claim 9, wherein said sender terminal generates and shares encryption keys between itself and a plurality of said recipient terminals.

17. An encrypted communication apparatus for generating and sharing a random number between a sender terminal and a recipient terminal and using the random number as an encryption key for encrypted communications, comprising:

holding means for holding part of a random number generated and shared in a past between said sender terminal and said recipient terminal;

wherein when said sender terminal and said recipient terminal which have been disconnected are connected again to each other, each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal confirms the part of random number held by said holding means, and the generation of said encryption key and the encrypted communications using said encryption key are resumed when each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal confirms the part of random number.

18. An encrypted communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein further comprising a quantum encryption key distribution system for generating and sharing said encryption key.

19. An encrypted communication apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said quantum encryption key distribution system comprises a “

plug &

play”

system.

20. An encrypted communication apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said quantum encryption key distribution system generates and shares said encryption key according to BB84 (Bennett Brassard 84) protocol.

21. An encrypted communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the random number held by said holding means is discarded after each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal has confirmed the part of the random number.

22. An encrypted communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein after the part of the random number generated and shared between said sender terminal and said recipient terminal is held by said holding means, said sender terminal and said recipient terminal are installed at a spaced interval represented by at least a predetermined distance from each other, and thereafter each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal confirms the part of the random number held by said holding means.

23. An encrypted communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the random number held by said holding means can be used when each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal confirms the part of the random number and also when said sender terminal and said recipient terminal perform encrypted communications with each other.

24. An encrypted communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said sender terminal generates and shares random numbers between itself and a plurality of said recipient terminals.

25. A method of generating and sharing a random number between a sender terminal and a recipient terminal, comprising the steps of:

holding part of a random number generated and shared in a past between said sender terminal and said recipient terminal, with holding means; and

when said sender terminal and said recipient terminal which have been disconnected are connected again to each other, confirming the part of random number held by said holding means with each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein said random number is generated and shared using a quantum encryption key distribution system.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein said quantum encryption key distribution system comprises a “

plug &

play”

system.

28. A method according to claim 26, wherein said quantum encryption key distribution system generates and shares said random number according to BB84 (Benneft Brassard 84) protocol.

29. A method according to claim 25, wherein the random number held by said holding means is discarded after each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal has confirmed the part of the random number.

30. A method according to claim 25, wherein after the part of the random number generated and shared between said sender terminal and said recipient terminal is held by said holding means, said sender terminal and said recipient terminal are installed at a spaced interval represented by at least a predetermined distance from each other, and thereafter each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal confirms the part of the random number held by said holding means.

31. A method according to claim 25, wherein the random number held by said holding means can be used when each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal confirms the part of the random number and also when said sender terminal and said recipient terminal perform encrypted communications with each other.

32. A method according to claim 25, wherein said sender terminal generates and shares random numbers between itself and a plurality of said recipient terminals.

33. A method of generating and sharing a random number between a sender terminal and a recipient terminal and using said random number as an encryption key, comprising the steps of:

holding part of a random number generated and shared in a past between said sender terminal and said recipient terminal, with holding means; and

when said sender terminal and said recipient terminal which have been disconnected are connected again to each other, confirming the part of random number held by said holding means with each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal, and resuming the generation of said encryption key when the part of random number is confirmed by each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein said encryption key is generated and shared using a quantum encryption key distribution system.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein said quantum encryption key distribution system comprises a “

plug &

play”

system.

36. A method according to claim 34, wherein said quantum encryption key distribution system generates and shares said encryption key according to BB84 (Bennett Brassard 84) protocol.

37. A method according to claim 33, wherein the random number held by said holding means is discarded after each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal has confirmed the part of the random number.

38. A method according to claim 33, wherein after the part of the random number generated and shared between said sender terminal and said recipient terminal is held by said holding means, said sender terminal and said recipient terminal are installed at a spaced interval represented by at least a predetermined distance from each other, and thereafter each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal confirms the part of the random number held by said holding means.

39. A method according to claim 33, wherein the random number held by said holding means can be used when each of said sender terminal and said recipient terminal confirms the part of the random number and also when said sender terminal and said recipient terminal perform encrypted communications with each other.

40. A method according to claim 33, wherein said sender terminal generates and shares encryption keys between itself and a plurality of said recipient terminals.