Storage-encryption-retrieval device and method with resulting business processes

• US 6,826,281 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2000
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George S. Mentrup, Paul Damien
• Original Assignee: George S. Mentrup, Paul Damien
• Inventors: Mentrup, George S., Damien, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrón, Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zand, Kambiz
• Application Number:
  US09/595,354
• Time in Patent Office: 1,629 Days
• Field of Search: 380/56, 380/210, 380/213, 380/216, 705/57-58, 382/184, 382/320, 235/449, 713/184
• US Class Current: 380/56
• CPC Class Codes: G09C 1/04 with sign carriers or indicators moved relative to one another to positions determined by a permutation code, or key, so as to indicate the appropriate corresponding clear or ciphered text

Abstract

An encryption device includes a card with a grid comprising multiple rows and columns defining boxes for receiving individual characters. One of the columns or rows contains a master password or code character string. Other columns or rows contain encrypted character strings. The individual characters of the master password can be offset with respect to corresponding, individual characters of the encrypted character strings. A sleeve slidably, reciprocably receives the card and assists with aligning the characters of the master password and the characters of the encrypted character strings, which are visible through a window in the sleeve. A method of storing, encrypting and retrieving character strings utilizes the encryption device.

Claims

1. A method for encrypting and retrieving a data word having a data sequence of data characters using a two dimensional grid of boxes on an encryption sheet and comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a master word having a known master sequence of master characters;

(b) recording said master word on said encryption sheet in a scrambled sequence of said master characters other than said master sequence along a master line of said boxes of said grid;

(c) recording said data word along a data line of boxes of said grid in said scrambled sequence by a fixed geometric offset of each of said data characters to at least one of said master characters;

(d) retrieving said data word by finding said master characters in said scrambled sequence and locating said data characters by reference to said fixed geometric offset of said data characters respectively to said master characters in said scrambled sequence;

(e) providing said grid of boxes on both of opposite sides of said encryption sheet;

(f) recording said scrambled sequence on said encryption sheet by alternating from master character to master character onto opposite sides of said encryption sheet; and

(g) recording said data word in said scrambled sequence as alternated on said opposite sides of said encryption sheet.

2. A method for encrypting and retrieving a data word having a data sequence of data characters using a two dimensional grid of boxes on an encryption sheet and comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a master word having a known master sequence of master characters;

(b) recording said master word on said encryption sheet in a scrambled sequence of said master characters other than said master sequence along a master line of said boxes of said grid;

(c) recording said data word along a data line of boxes of said grid in said scrambled sequence by a fixed geometric offset of each of said data characters to at least one of said master characters;

(d) retrieving said data word by finding said master characters in said scrambled sequence and locating said data characters by reference to said fixed geometric offset of said data characters respectively to said master characters in said scrambled sequence; and

(e) recording a second data word of second data characters along a second data line of boxes of said grid in said grid sequence by said fixed geometric offset of each second data character to at least one of said master characters.

3. A method for encrypting and retrieving a data word having a data sequence of data characters using a two dimensional grid of boxes on an encryption sheet and comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a master word having a known master sequence of master characters;

(b) recording said master word on said encryption sheet in a scrambled sequence of said master characters other than said master sequence along a master line of said boxes of said grid;

(c) recording said data word along a data line of boxes of said grid in said scrambled sequence by a fixed geometric offset of each of said data characters to at least one of said master characters;

(d) retrieving said data word by finding said master characters in said scrambled sequence and locating said data characters by reference to said fixed geometric offset of said data characters respectively to said master characters in said scrambled sequence;

(e) providing a sleeve sized and shaped to receive said encryption sheet therein, said sleeve having an outer end and a character window positioned in a selected fixed geometric offset relationship to said outer end; and

(f) employing said outer end of said sleeve with and said character window to record said data characters in said fixed geometric offset and to thereby retrieve said data characters by said fixed geometric offset of said data characters to said master characters in said scrambled sequence.

4. A method for encrypting and retrieving a data word having a data sequence of data characters using a two dimensional grid of boxes on an encryption sheet and comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a master word having a known master sequence of master characters;

(b) recording said master word on said encryption sheet in a scrambled sequence of said master characters other than said master sequence along a master line of said boxes of said grid;

(c) recording said data word along a data line of boxes of said grid in said scrambled sequence by a fixed geometric offset of each of said data characters to at least one of said master characters;

(d) retrieving said data word by finding said master characters in said scrambled sequence and locating said data characters by reference to said fixed geometric offset of said data characters respectively to said master characters in said scrambled sequence;

(e) said data word being a first data word, said master word being a first master word, and said first data word and said master word being recorded on a first grid of boxes on a first side of said encryption sheet; and

including the steps of;

(1) selecting a second master word having a known second master sequence of second master characters;

(2) recording said second master word on said encryption sheet in a second scrambled sequence of said second master characters other than said second master sequence along a second master line of boxes of a second grid on a second side of said encryption sheet;

(3) recording said second data word along a second data line of boxes of said second grid in said second scrambled sequence by said fixed geometric offset of each of said second data characters to a respective one of said second master characters; and

(4) retrieving said second data word by finding said second master characters in said second scrambled sequence and locating said second data characters by reference to said flexed geometric offset of said second data characters respectively to said second master characters.

5. A method for encrypting and retrieving a data word having a data sequence of data characters using a two dimensional grid of boxes on an encryption sheet and comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a sleeve sized and shaped to receive said encryption sheet therein, said sleeve having an outer end and a character window positioned in a selected fixed geometric relationship to said outer end;

(b) selecting a master word having a known master sequence of master characters;

(c) recording said master word on said encryption sheet in a scrambled sequence of said master characters other than said master sequence along a master line of said boxes of said grid;

(d) recording said data word along a data line of boxes of said grid in said scrambled sequence by a fixed geometric offset of each of said data characters to at least one of said master characters by aligning said outer end of said sleeve with a master character and recording a data character on said encryption sheet through said character window to establish said fixed geometric offset; and

(e) retrieving said data word by finding said master characters in said scrambled sequence and locating said data characters by reference to said fixed geometric offset of said data characters respectively to said master characters in said scrambled sequence by aligning said outer end of said sleeve with each master character and reading a corresponding data character through said character window.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 and including the step of:

establishing said fixed geometric offset between each master character and a selected plurality of data characters.

7. A method as set forth in claim 5 and including the step of:

establishing said fixed geometric offset between a selected plurality of master characters and each data character.

8. A method as set forth in claim 5 and including the steps of:

(a) providing said grid of boxes on both of opposite sides of said encryption sheet;

(b) recording said scrambled sequence on said encryption sheet by alternating from master character to master character onto opposite sides of said encryption sheet; and

(c) recording said data word in said scrambled sequence as alternated on said opposite sides of said encryption sheet.

9. A method as set forth in claim 5 and including the step of:

recording a second data word of second data characters along a second data line of boxes of said grid in said grid sequence by said fixed geometric offset of each second data character to at least one of said master characters.

10. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said data word is a first data word, said master word is a first master word, said first data word and said master word are recorded on a first grid of boxes on a first side of said encryption sheet;

and including the steps of;

(a) selecting a second master word having a known second master sequence of second master characters;

(b) recording said second master word on said encryption sheet in a second scrambled sequence of said second master characters other than said second master sequence along a second master line of boxes of a second grid on a second side of said encryption sheet;

(c) recording said second data word along a second data line of boxes of said second grid in said second scrambled sequence by said fixed geometric offset of each of said second data characters to a respective one of said second master characters; and

(d) retrieving said second data word by finding said second master characters in said second scrambled sequence and locating said second data characters by reference to said fixed geometric offset of said second data characters respectively to said second master characters.

11. A method as set forth in claim 5 and including the steps of:

(a) providing a magnetic strip on said encryption sheet; and

(b) recording in said magnetic strip an encoded sequence which is independent of said data word and said master word.