GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) handset with carrier independent personal encryption

• US 20050232422A1
• Filed: 04/19/2004
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Spreadtrum Communications USA
• Original Assignee: Spreadtrum Communications USA
• Inventors: Zhang, Yan, Lin, Jingdong, Chen, Datong
• Application Number:
  US10/827,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20050232422A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/255
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0662 with particular pseudorandom sequence generator
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/12 Transmitting and receiving encryption devices synchronised or initially set up in a particular manner
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity

Abstract

The present disclosure introduces simple methods and systems for personal encryption of messages and data, using a GSM handset. The proposed methods and systems furnish another layer of communication security instead of or in addition to that of the carrier. Users can generate and customize their own encrypted communication, independent of the carrier. In one embodiment the existing handset hardware can be used to implement the personal encryption, without the need for additional hardware. The present disclosure also provides methods and systems for generating different encryption keys and synchronization methods. In one exemplary system the encryption key is kept in the memory of the handset, while in another exemplary system the key is downloaded from an SMS (Short Message Service) station. In one exemplary method the encryption key sequence is as long as the block data and is synchronized with each block data, while in another exemplary method the transmitted information is segmented and flagged for synchronization with the encryption key.

Claims

1. A method of generating personal encryption for telephony, the method comprising:

entering a private code;

entering a telephone number;

generating encryption and decryption key sequences based on the entered information;

encrypting the outgoing information if in communication with the entered telephone number; and

decrypting the incoming information if in communication with the entered telephone number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the key generation is based on the entered private code.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the key generation is based on the entered telephone number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the key generation is based on the entered private code and the entered telephone number.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated key sequence for encryption is the same as the key sequence for decryption.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated key sequence for encryption is different from the key sequence for decryption.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the private code is any string of letters, numbers, symbols, or a combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the key sequence is a string of 0'"'"'s.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the key sequences reside in the memory of the mobile stations.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the key sequences reside in EPROMs.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the key sequences reside in any memory device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the key sequences are downloaded from SMS (Short Message Service) stations.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the key sequences are as long as data blocks.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the key sequences are longer or shorter than data blocks.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the key sequences are as long as data blocks and are synchronized with data blocks.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the key sequences are synchronized with flags or signals added to the transmitted information.

17. A method of generating personal encryption for telephony, independent of the carrier, using a handset, the method comprising:

entering a private code;

entering a telephone number;

generating encryption and decryption key sequences based on the entered information;

checking the telephone number communicating with;

encrypting the outgoing information, if the entered telephone number is the same as the telephone number being in communication with; and

decrypting the incoming information, if the entered telephone number is the same as the telephone number being in communication with.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the key generation is based on the entered private code.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the key generation is based on the entered telephone number.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the key generation is based on the entered private code and the entered telephone number.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the generated key sequence for encryption is the same as the key sequence for decryption.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the generated key sequence for encryption is different from the key sequence for decryption.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the private code is any string of letters, numbers, symbols, or a combination thereof.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the key sequences reside in the memory of the mobile stations.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the key sequences reside in at least one EPROM.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the key sequences reside in at least one memory device.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the key sequences are downloaded from SMS (Short Message Service) stations.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein the key sequences are as long as data blocks.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the key sequences are longer or shorter than data blocks.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein the key sequences are as long as data blocks and are synchronized with data blocks.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein the key sequences are synchronized with flags or signals added to the transmitted information.

32. A method of generating personal encryption by Global System for Mobile Communication handsets, the method comprising:

entering a private code;

entering a telephone number;

generating encryption and decryption key sequences based on the entered private code, the entered telephone number, or both;

checking the telephone number communicating with;

encrypting the outgoing information with the generated encryption key, if the entered telephone number is the same as the telephone number being in communication with;

decrypting the incoming information with the generated decryption key, if the entered telephone number is the same as the telephone number being in communication with;

encrypting the outgoing information with a key sequence of all 0'"'"'s, if the entered telephone number is not the same as the telephone number being in communication with; and

decrypting the incoming information with a key sequence of all 0'"'"'s, if the entered telephone number is not the same as the telephone number being in communication with.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the generated key sequence for encryption is the same as the key sequence for decryption.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the generated key sequence for encryption is different from the key sequence for decryption.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the private code is any string of letters, numbers, symbols, or a combination thereof.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the key sequences reside in the memory of the mobile stations.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the key sequences reside in at least one EPROM.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the key sequences reside in at least one memory device.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein the key sequences are downloaded from SMS (Short Message Service) stations.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein the key sequences are as long as data blocks.

41. The method of claim 32, wherein the key sequences are longer or shorter than data blocks.

42. The method of claim 32, wherein the key sequences are as long as data blocks and are synchronized with data blocks.

43. The method of claim 32, wherein the key sequences are synchronized with flags or signals added to the transmitted information.

44. A system for generating personal encryption for telephony, the system comprising:

a user interface;

an encryption and decryption key sequence generator;

a telephone number comparator;

a key sequence selector;

an exclusive-OR functional module; and

an arrangement in which;

the user enters a private code and a telephone number into the user interface;

the comparator receives the telephone number being in communication with and receives the entered telephone number from the user interface;

the key sequence generator receives the private code and the entered telephone number from the user interface and generates encryption and decryption sequences based on the private code, the telephone number, or both;

the key sequence selector receives the generated keys of the key generator, a string of 0'"'"'s, and the comparison result of the comparator; and

the exclusive-OR functional module receives the output of the selector, which is the generated key sequence if the comparator'"'"'s inputs are the same, or the string of 0'"'"'s if the comparator'"'"'s inputs are not the same.