Stand-alone telecommunications security device

• US 6,430,691 B1
• Filed: 06/21/1999
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Secure Web Conference Corporation (Anixa Biosciences, Inc. (f/k/a ITUS Corporation))
• Original Assignee: Anixa Biosciences, Inc. (f/k/a ITUS Corporation)
• Inventors: Lewit, Edward, Di Santo, Frank J, Krusos, Denis A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peeso, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US09/336,948
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 380/266, 380/243, 380/257, 713/192, 349/441, 349/442
• US Class Current: 713/192
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication

Abstract

A method for selectively encrypting electronically communicated information including the steps of: in a first mode, allowing audio and facsimile signals to pass between communications devices in a substantially unaltered manner; in a second mode: establishing a secure session between a first security device and a second security devices; intercepting and digitizing audio signals to produce audio data; encrypting the audio data; and, modulating the encrypted audio data for transmission over the secure session; and, in a third mode: automatically intercepting a signal indicative of an attempt to transmit or receive a facsimile; establishing a facsimile session dependent upon at least one characteristic indicative of a rate at which information can be transmitted and received using the secure session; receiving facsimile signals and demodulating the received facsimile signals to produce facsimile data; encrypting the facsimile data; and, modulating the encrypted facsimile data for transmission over the secure session.

Claims

1. A device for selectively encrypting transmissions comprising:

a local port, a remote port and a serial I/O port;

a first local modem coupled to said local port;

a second remote modem coupled to said remote port;

an audio codec coupled to said local port;

an encryption/decryption unit for selectively encrypting and decrypting data; and

,

a microprocessor coupled to said local modem, remote modem, said audio codec and encryption/decryption unit, for operating said device in a first mode wherein audio and facsimile signals are passed between said local and remote ports in a substantially unaltered manner;

a second mode wherein audio data received using said local port is digitized using said audio codec, encrypted using said encryption/decryption unit and modulated and transmitted using said remote modem and remote port;

a third mode wherein facsimile signals received using said local port are demodulated using said local modem, encrypted using said encryption/decryption unit and modulated and transmitted using said remote modem; and

a fourth mode wherein audio or facsimile signals are received using said local port, other data is simultaneously received using said serial I/O port and data indicative of said received audio or facsimile signals and other data is simultaneously encrypted using said encryption/decryption unit and modulated and transmitted using said remote modem.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein in said first mode data is received using said serial I/O port, encrypted using said encryption/decryption device and modulated and transmitted using said remote modem and remote port.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

first means for switching said device between said modes in response to a user thereof and second means for switching said device between said modes in response to a signal received using said remote port.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is further adapted to switch said device between said second, third and fourth modes automatically.