Data encryption control apparatus and method
First Claim
1. In a data encryption system for encrypting/decrypting information on a computer, a file encryption apparatus comprising:
- storage area means for storing one or more encrypted files with a specific encryption key associated with said storage area means and storing encrypted information for managing the files;
password registration means for registering an authentication password required for a user to access said storage area means; and
file encryption/decryption means for encrypting an unencrypted file specified by a user by using the specific encryption key associated with the storage area means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An end-user oriented, file encryption control apparatus and method involving simple manipulations. File encryption is performed by conducting intuitive drag and drop manipulation with respect to an icon modeled after a safe. From the password for user authentication, an encryption key used for file encryption and decryption is automatically generated. All manipulations concerning the encryption key are concealed from users. A user interface section for performing encryption and decryption by conducting intuitive drag and drop manipulation with respect to an icon modeled after a safe, an automatic encryption key generation section for automatically generating an encryption key from a password, and a file encryption processing section for conducting file encryption processing without conducting authentication using a password are included. A file encryption function excellent in manipulation convenience is thus provided.
350 Citations
22 Claims
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1. In a data encryption system for encrypting/decrypting information on a computer, a file encryption apparatus comprising:
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storage area means for storing one or more encrypted files with a specific encryption key associated with said storage area means and storing encrypted information for managing the files; password registration means for registering an authentication password required for a user to access said storage area means; and file encryption/decryption means for encrypting an unencrypted file specified by a user by using the specific encryption key associated with the storage area means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for encrypting and decrypting information on a computer, using an apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a storage area defined as a storage folder, formed by specifying an encrypted file area for storing encrypted files obtained by encrypting plain text files as said information, an encrypted data area for storing plain text file names in association with encrypted file names, and a password storage area for storing a password obtained by encrypting, by means of a system key, a password inputted by a user; in encryption, generating an encrypted password by using a system key from a password inputted by an encryption user and storing said encrypted password in said password storage area; decrypting said encrypted password by using the system key and generating an encryption key; encrypting a specified plain text file by using said encryption key and said encrypted plain text file in said encrypted file area; and registering a table representing the relation of plain text file names with encrypted file names in said encrypted data area; in decryption displaying said registered association table of the encrypted data area on the basis of a password inputted by an decryption user; making the decryption user specify a file name to be decrypted by referring to said displayed table; generating said encryption key on the basis of said inputted password; and decrypting an encrypted file having said specified file name by using said generated encryption key. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer program encoded in a computer readable memory medium for directing information encrypting and decrypting operations on the computer, when executed by a computer causes the computer to perform the following:
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providing a storage area (storage folder) formed by specifying an encrypted file area for storing encrypted files obtained by encrypting unencrypted or plain text files as said information, an encrypted data area for storing plain text file names in association with encrypted file names, and a password storage area for storing a password obtained by encrypting, by means of a system key, a password inputted by a user; in encryption, generating an encrypted password by using a system key from a password inputted by an encryption user and storing said encrypted password in said password storage area; decrypting said encrypted password by using the system key and generating an encryption key; encrypting a specified noncryptic file by using said encryption key and said encrypted plain text file in said encrypted file area; and registering said table representing the relation of plain text file names with encrypted file names in said encrypted data area; in decryption displaying said registered association table of the encrypted data area on the basis of a password inputted by an decryption user; making the decryption user specify a file name to be decrypted by referring to said displayed table; generating said encryption key on the basis of said inputted password; and decrypting an encrypted file having said specified file name by using said generated encryption key. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method of encrypting information comprising the steps of:
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creating an encryption folder for holding a plurality of encrypted files; receiving from a user a password associated with the encryption folder; authenticating the password to provide the user access to files in the encryption folder; storing the password in the encryption folder; receiving a user selection of an unencrypted data file to be encrypted; retrieving the password stored in the encryption folder; automatically generating an encryption key associated with the encryption folder based on the retrieved password; and encrypting the selected data file using the encryption key. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method of encrypting information comprising the steps of:
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creating an encryption folder for holding a plurality of encrypted files; receiving from a user a password associated with the encryption folder; authenticating the password to provide the user access to files in the encryption folder; encrypting the password; storing the encrypted password in the encryption folder; receiving a user selection of a data file to be encrypted; retrieving the password stored in the encryption folder; decrypting the retrieved password; automatically generating an encryption key associated with the encryption folder based on the decrypted password; and encrypting the selected data file using the encryption key.
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Specification