Modular cryptographic device providing status determining features and related methods
First Claim
1. A cryptographic device comprising:
- a cryptographic module and a communications module removably coupled thereto;
said cryptographic module comprising a first housing, a user network interface carried by said first housing, a cryptographic processor carried by said first housing and coupled to said user network interface, and a first connector carried by said first housing and coupled to said cryptographic processor;
said communications module comprising a second housing, a second connector carried by said second housing and being removably mateable with said first connector of said cryptographic module, a network interface carried by said second housing and coupled to said second connector, and at least one logic device for cooperating with said cryptographic processor to determine a status of said communications module.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cryptographic device may include a cryptographic module and a communications module removably coupled thereto. The cryptographic module may include a first housing, a user Local Area Network (LAN) interface carried by the first housing, a cryptographic processor carried by the first housing and coupled to the user network interface, and a first connector carried by the first housing and coupled to the cryptographic processor. The communications module may include a second housing, a second connector carried by the second housing and being removably mateable with the first connector of the cryptographic module, and a network communications interface carried by the second housing and coupled to the second connector. The communications module may also include at least one logic device for cooperating with the cryptographic processor to determine a status of the communications module.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A cryptographic device comprising:
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a cryptographic module and a communications module removably coupled thereto;
said cryptographic module comprising a first housing, a user network interface carried by said first housing, a cryptographic processor carried by said first housing and coupled to said user network interface, and a first connector carried by said first housing and coupled to said cryptographic processor;
said communications module comprising a second housing, a second connector carried by said second housing and being removably mateable with said first connector of said cryptographic module, a network interface carried by said second housing and coupled to said second connector, and at least one logic device for cooperating with said cryptographic processor to determine a status of said communications module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A cryptographic device comprising:
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a cryptographic module and a communications module removably coupled thereto;
said cryptographic module comprising a first housing, a user Local Area Network (LAN) interface carried by said first housing, a cryptographic processor carried by said first housing and coupled to said user LAN interface, and a first connector carried by said first housing and coupled to said cryptographic processor;
said communications module comprising a second housing, a second connector carried by said second housing and being removably mateable with said first connector of said cryptographic module, a network LAN interface carried by said second housing and coupled to said second connector, and at least one logic device for cooperating with said cryptographic processor to determine at least one of a type of communications module and an operating status thereof, said at least one logic device also permitting said cryptographic processor to configure said network LAN interface. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A communications method comprising:
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coupling a cryptographic module to a network device, the cryptographic module comprising a first housing, a user network interface carried by the first housing, a cryptographic processor carried by the first housing and coupled to the user network interface, and a first connector carried by the first housing and coupled to the cryptographic processor;
providing a communications module comprising a second housing, a second connector carried by the second housing, a network LAN interface carried by the second housing and coupled to the second connector, and at least one logic device carried by the second housing and coupled to the second connector, the second connector of the communications module being removably mated with the first connector of the cryptographic module;
using the network LAN interface to communicate with a network; and
causing the at least one logic device to cooperate with the cryptographic processor to determine a status of the communications module. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A communications system comprising:
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a plurality of network devices coupled together to define a network, and a cryptographic device coupled to at least one of said network devices;
said cryptographic device comprising a cryptographic module coupled to said at least one network device, and a communications module removably coupled to said cryptographic module;
said cryptographic module comprising a first housing, a user network interface carried by said first housing, a cryptographic processor carried by said first housing and coupled to said user network interface, and a first connector carried by said first housing and coupled to said cryptographic processor;
said communications module comprising a second housing, a second connector carried by said second housing and being removably mateable with said first connector of said cryptographic module, a network communications interface carried by said second housing and coupled to said second connector, and at least one logic device for cooperating with said cryptographic processor to determine a status of said communications module. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification