Method and apparatus for providing privacy/security in a communication system

• US 4,972,479 A
• Filed: 07/10/1987
• Issued: 11/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cellular Services Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cellular Services Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Edwards, Steven S., Beaman, Alerick R., Tobias, Ray W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cain, David
• Application Number:
  US07/072,157
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 379/62, 379/58, 380/31, 380/33, 380/34, 380/9, 455/54
• US Class Current: 380/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for providing privacy on communications systems which include radio links, such as cellular telephone, marine radiotelephone, IMTS, and RDSS systems, in a manner which does not require a scrambler/descrambler at each called party location. The apparatus includes a base module having a call diverter connected to the public switched telephone network through two standard telephone lines. A bypass interface circuit is connected to the call diverter between the connections to the two telephone lines to selectively connect a scrambler/descrambler in series with the two telephone lines.

In operation, a mobile telephone, such as a cellular telephone, places a call to the telephone number of the first telephone line to cause the call diverter to place the second line off-hook and supply a dial tone from the second line through the call diverter and the first line back to the cellular telephone. The cellular telephone then dials the number of the desired called party to establish a communications path. The cellular telephone causes the call diverter to connect the scrambler/descrambler in series with the communications path and activates a scrambler/descrambler at the cellular telephone location to provide privacy against unauthorized monitoring of the radio link, without requiring a scrambler/descrambler unit at the called party location.

Claims

1. Communications system security apparatus adapted for coupling to first and second communications channels each comprising public subscriber lines having first and second ends, said first ends being at a network switch, said apparatus comprising:

diverter means for establishing an unencrypted communications path between said second ends of said first and second channels in response to signals received over said channels;

encryption means having first and second terminals for encrypting signals received at said second terminal and supplying said encrypted signals to said first terminal, and for decrypting signals received at said first terminal and supplying said decrypted signals to said second terminal; and

coupling means responsive to an activation signal for selectively coupling said encryption means to said diverter means such that said first terminal is coupled to said first channel second end and said second terminal is coupled to said second channel second end, whereby encrypted signals received at said first channel second end are transmitted in decrypted form over said second channel and signals received at said second channel second end are transmitted over said first channel in encrypted form.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said coupling means is operable between a first mode in which said encryption means is isolated from said communications path and a second mode in which said encryption means is connected in series with said communications path.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said diverter means comprises DTMF detection means for generating a DTMF DETECT signal in response to the presence of DTMF signals on said communications path and wherein said coupling means comprises means responsive to said DTMF detect signal for maintaining said coupling means in said first mode during the presence of DTMF signals on said communications path.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said maintaining means comprises a multiplexer circuit having a common terminal, a select terminal, and a pair of selected terminals, a latch circuit connected to the select terminal of said multiplexer circuit, and a timer circuit connected to one of said selected terminals of said multiplexer circuit.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said timer circuit includes means for causing said multiplexer circuit to switch said coupling means to said second mode a predetermined time after detection of a DTMF signal on said communications path.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said diverter means comprises means responsive to an access code received over said first communications channels to establish a communications path between said first and second channels.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said diverter means comprises a pair of relays, a pair of hybrid circuits, and a diverter control circuit operative to establish said communications path through said relays and said hybrid circuits.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said coupling means is connected between said hybrid circuits.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said diverter means comprises a pair of ring detector circuits each respectively connected to one of said channels and each generating a ring detect signal when a ringing signal is present on the respective channel.

10. Apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said diverter control circuit is responsive to said ring detect signals to establish said communications path through said relays and said hybrid circuits to permit DTMF signals received from either of said channels to be transmitted over the other of said channels.

11. Apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said diverter means comprises means responsive to a ring detect signal associated with one of said channels to transmit a predetermined sequence of DTMF signals over the other of said channels.

12. A method for providing privacy in a communications system having first and second channels, each of said channels comprising public subscriber lines having first and second ends, said first end being at a public network switch, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first activation signal over at least one of said first and second channels;

accepting communications signals and encrypted communications signals from at least one of said first and second channel second ends in response to said first activation signal;

establishing an unencrypted communications path between said first channel second end and said second channel second end in response to communications signals received at at least one of said first and second channel second ends;

selectively inserting an encryption/decryption circuit in said communications path in response to said received communications signals; and

decrypting said encrypted communications signals received at said first channel second end to form decrypted signals and transmitting said decrypted signals over said second channel, and encrypting communications signals received over said second channel second end and transmitting said encrypted second channel signals over said first channel.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein said step of selectively inserting an encryption/decryption circuit comprises the substeps of detecting DTMF signals on said communications path, maintaining said encryption/decryption circuit in isolation from said communications path when said DTMF signals are present on said communications path, and inserting said encryption/decryption circuit in series with said communications path after said DTMF signals are no longer present.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein said substep of maintaining said encryption/decryption circuit in isolation comprises the substep of maintaining said encryption/decryption circuit in isolation from said communications path for a predetermined time period after said DTMF signals are no longer present on said communications path.

15. Communications system security apparatus adapted for coupling to first, second, and third communications channels, said apparatus comprising:

first diverter means for establishing a communications path between said first and second channels in response to signals received over one of said first and second channels;

second diverter means for establishing a communications path between said second and third channels in response to signals received over one of said second and third channels;

first and second encryption means each having first and second terminals for encrypting signals received from said second terminal and supplying said encrypted signals to said first terminal, and for decrypting signals received from said first terminal and supplying said decrypted signals to said second terminal;

first coupling means responsive to an activation signal for selectively connecting said first encryption means to said first diverter means such that said first encryption means first terminal is connected to said first channel and said first encryption means second terminal is connected to said second channel; and

second coupling means responsive to an activation signal for selectively connecting said second encryption means to said second diverter means such that said second encryption means second terminal is connected to said third channel and said second encryption means first terminal is connected to said second channel;

whereby signals received by said apparatus from said first channel are transmitted in encrypted form over said second channel and retransmitted in decrypted form over said third channel, and whereby signals received by said apparatus from said third channel are transmitted in encrypted form over said second channel and retransmitted in decrypted form over said first channel.

16. A method for providing privacy in a communications system having first, second, and third channels, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first activation signal over one of said first and third channels;

accepting communications signals from said one channel in response to said first activation signal;

establishing a communications path between said first, second, and third channels in response to communications signals received over said one channel;

selectively inserting an encryption/decryption circuit in said communications path between said first and second channels and between said second and third channels in response to communications signals received over said channels;

encrypting said communications signals received over said first channel to form encrypted first channel communications signals, retransmitting said encrypted first channel communications signals over said second channel, decrypting said encrypted first channel communications signals received over said second channel, and retransmittinq said decrypted first channel communications signals over said third Channel; and

encrypting communications signals received over said third channel to form encrypted third channel signals, retransmitting said encrypted third channel signals over said second channel;

decrypting said encrypted third channel communications signals received over said second channel, and retransmitting said decrypted third channel communications signals over said first channel.

17. Communications system security apparatus adapted for coupling to first and second communications channels, each comprising public subscriber lines having first and second ends, said first end being at a network switch said apparatus comprising:

diverter means for establishing an unencrypted communications path between said second ends of said first and second channels in response to signals received over said channels;

input and output means for supplying signals to an associated encryption/decryption device and for receiving signals from said associated encryption/decryption device; and

bypass means responsive to an activation signal for switching between a connected condition in which said input and output means are connected in series circuit relationship with said communications path and a bypass condition in which said input and output means is isolated from said communications path.

18. Communications system security apparatus adapted for coupling to first, second, and third communications channels, said first and third channels having a first end at a public network switch and a second end at a location other than a public network switch, said apparatus comprising:

first diverter means for establishing a communications path between said first channel second end and said second channel in response to signals received over one of said first and second channels;

second diverter means for establishing a communications path between said second channel and said third channel second end in response to signals received over one of said second and third channels;

first and second encryption means each having first and second terminals for encrypting signals received from said second terminal and supplying said encrypted signals to said first terminal, and for decrypting signals received from said first terminal and supplying said decrypted signals to said second terminal;

first coupling means responsive to an activation signal for selectively connecting said first encryption means to said first diverter means such that said first encryption means first terminal is connected to said first channel second end and said first encryption means second terminal is connected to said second channel; and

second coupling means responsive to an activation signal for selectively connecting said second encryption means to said second diverter means such that said second encryption means second terminal is connected to said third channel second end and said second encryption means first terminal is connected to said second channel;

whereby signals received by said apparatus from said first channel are transmitted in encrypted form over said second channel and retransmitted in decrypted form over said third channel, and whereby signals received by said apparatus from said third channel are transmitted in encrypted form over said second channel and retransmitted in decrypted form over said first channel.

19. A method for providing privacy in a communications system having first, second, and third channels, said first and third channels having a first end at a public network switch and a second end at a location other than a public network switch, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first activation signal over one of said first and third channels;

accepting communications signals from said one channel in response to said first activation signal;

establishing a communications path between said second end of said first channel and said second channel and between said second end of said third channel and said second channel in response to communications signals received over said one channel;

selectively inserting an encryption/decryption circuit in said communications path between said first channel second end and second channel and between said second channel and said third channel second end in response to communications signals received over said channels;

encrypting said communications signals received over said first channel to form encrypted first channel communications signals, retransmitting said encrypted first channel communications signals over said second channel, decrypting said encrypted first channel communications signals received over said second channel, and retransmitting said decrypted first channel communications signals over said third channel; and

encrypting communications signals received over said third channel to form encrypted third channel signals, retransmitting said encrypted third channel signals over said second channel;

decrypting said encrypted third channel communications signals received over said second channel, and retransmitting said decrypted third channel communications signals over said first channel.

20. Communications system security apparatus adapted for coupling to first and second communications channels each comprising public subscriber lines having first and second ends, said first ends being at a network switch, said apparatus comprising:

diverter means for establishing an unencrypted communications path between said first and second channels in response to signals received over said channels, said diverter means including first and second connection means for respectively connecting said diverter means to said second ends of said first and second channels;

encrypting means having first and second terminals for encrypting signals received at said second terminal and supplying said encrypted signals to said first terminal, and for decrypting signals received at said first terminal and supplying said decrypted signals to said second terminal; and

coupling means responsive to an activation signal for selectively coupling said encryption means to said diverter means such that said first terminal is coupled to said first channel second end and said second terminal is coupled to said second channel second end, whereby encrypted signals received at said first channel second end are transmitted in decrypted form over said second channel and signals received at said second channel second end are transmitted over said first channel in encrypted form.

21. Communications system security apparatus adapted for coupling to first and second switched network telephone lines, said apparatus comprising:

diverter means for establishing an unencrypted communications path between said first and second switched network telephone lines in response to signals received over at least one of said switched network telephone lines, said diverter means including first and second connection means for respectively connecting said diverter means to said first and second switched network telephone lines;

encryption means having first and second terminals for encrypting signals received at said second terminal and supplying said encrypted signals to said first terminal, and for decrypting signals received at said first terminal and supplying said decrypted signals to said second terminal; and

coupling means responsive to an activation signal for selectively coupling said encryption means to said diverter means such that said first terminal is coupled to said first switched network telephone line and said second terminal is coupled to said second switched network telephone line, whereby encrypted signals received over said first switched network telephone line are transmitted in decrypted form over said second switched network telephone line and signals received over said second switched network telephone line are transmitted over said first switched network telephone line in encrypted form.

22. A method for providing privacy in a communications system having first and second switched network telephone lines, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first activation signal over at least one of said first and second switched network telephone lines;

accepting communications signals and encrypted communications signals from said first switched network telephone line in response to said first activation signal;

establishing an unencrypted communications path between said first switched network telephone line and said second switched network telephone line in response to communications signals received over said first switched network telephone line;

selectively inserting an encryption/decryption circuit in said communications path in response to said communications signals received over at said first switched network telephone line; and

decrypting said encrypted communications signals received over said first switched network telephone line to form decrypted signals and transmitting said decrypted signals over said second switched network telephone line, and encrypting communications signals received over said second channel second end and transmitting said encrypted second switched network telephone line signals over said first switched network telephone line.