Apparatus and computer-recording medium for evaluation support of encryption algorithm strength

• US 7,051,202 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2001
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Tsunoo, Yukiyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Norman M.
• Application Number:
  US09/766,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20010019609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,946 Days
• Field of Search: 380/44, 380/46, 380/47, 713/193, 713/165, 713/155
• US Class Current: 713/165
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/26 Testing cryptographic entity, e.g. testing integrity of encryption key or encryption algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/14 using a plurality of keys or algorithms

Abstract

An encryption evaluation support system, includes an evaluation executing unit, and a point storing unit. The evaluation executing unit receives a figure representation of an encryption algorithm. The figure representation includes a plurality of unit figures. The point storing unit stores points allocated to the plurality of unit figures respectively. The evaluation executing unit gives the points to the plurality of unit figures of the figure representation, respectively, to output the points given to the plurality of unit figures of the figure representation.

Claims

1. An encryption evaluation support system, comprising:

an evaluation executing unit receiving a figure representation of an encryption algorithm, wherein said figure representation includes a plurality of unit figures; and

a point storing unit storing points allocated to said plurality of unit figures respectively, and

wherein said evaluation executing unit gives said points to said plurality of unit figures of said figure representation, respectively, to output said points given to said plurality of unit figures of said figure representation.

2. The encryption evaluation support system according to claim 1, wherein said figure representation is a function block diagram.

3. The encryption evaluation support system according to claim 1, wherein said figure representation is described in a pre-defined encryption algorithm specification description manner, and

wherein said unit figure is used in said encryption algorithm specification description manner.

4. The encryption evaluation support system according to claim 3, further comprising:

an evaluation target editing unit supporting a user who generates said figure representation of said encryption algorithm based on said encryption algorithm specification description manner.

5. The encryption evaluation support system according to claim 1, wherein said evaluation executing unit outputs said points to evaluate said encryption algorithm corresponding to said figure representation, before an encryption program is generated based on said encryption algorithm.

6. The encryption evaluation support system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an automatic replacing unit generating a changed figure representation in which at least one of said plurality of unit figures of said figure representation is automatically replaced by another unit figure, and

wherein said point storing unit stores a point allocated to said another unit figure, and

wherein said evaluation executing unit gives said points to a plurality of unit figures including said another unit figure of said changed figure representation, with reference to said point storing unit, respectively to output said points given to said plurality of unit figures of said changed figure representation.

7. The encryption evaluation support system according to claim 1, wherein said point storing unit stores said point allocated to said unit figure for each of a plurality of evaluation items, and

wherein said evaluation executing unit gives said points for selected one of said plurality of evaluation items to said plurality of unit figures of said figure representation, respectively, with reference to said point storing unit to output said points for said selected one given to said plurality of unit figures of said figure representation.

8. The encryption evaluation support system according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of evaluation items include an evaluation item with regard to an encryption strength.

9. The encryption evaluation support system according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of evaluation items include an evaluation item with regard to an estimation of one of a size and a processing amount when said encryption algorithm is executed in one of a software and a hardware.

10. The encryption evaluation support system according to claim 1, wherein said evaluation executing unit gives said point to one of said plurality of unit figures of said figure representation, every time a signal flowing in said figure representation passes through said one of said plurality of unit figures of said figure representation.

11. The encryption evaluation support system according to claim 10, wherein said signal includes a plurality of bits, and

wherein said plurality of bits of said signal are passed through said one of said plurality of unit figures in parallel, and

wherein said point storing unit stores said point allocated to said unit figure for each of said plurality of bits, and

wherein said evaluation executing unit gives said point for each of said plurality of bits to said unit figure with reference to said point storing unit, to output said point for each of said plurality of bits given to said figure representation.

12. The encryption evaluation support system according to claim 11, wherein said evaluation executing unit calculates a mean value of said points corresponding to said plurality of bits given to said figure representation, to output.

13. The encryption evaluation support system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a result editing unit presenting said points outputted by said evaluation executing unit in graphical form.

14. The encryption evaluation support system according to claim 13, wherein said result editing unit sorts said points outputted by said evaluation executing unit to present.

15. The encryption evaluation support system according to claim 1, wherein said encryption algorithm is a type of one of a common key cryptosystem and a public key cryptosystem.

16. A computer readable recording medium for recording a program for a process embodied thereon, comprising:

(a) receiving a figure representation of an encryption algorithm, wherein said figure representation includes a plurality of unit figures;

(b) storing points allocated to said plurality of unit figures respectively;

(c) giving said points to said plurality of unit figures of said figure representation, respectively; and

(d) outputting said points given to said plurality of unit figures of said figure representation.

17. The computer readable recording medium for recording a program for a process according to claim 16, wherein said figure representation is described in a pre-defined encryption algorithm specification description manner, and

wherein said unit figure is used in said encryption algorithm specification description manner.

18. The computer readable recording medium for recording a program for a process according to claim 16, wherein said (d) includes outputting said points to evaluate said encryption algorithm corresponding to said figure representation, before an encryption program is generated based on said encryption algorithm.

19. The computer readable recording medium for recording a program for a process according to claim 16, further comprising:

(e) generating a changed figure representation in which at least one of said plurality of unit figures of said figure representation is automatically replaced by another unit figure, and

wherein said (b) includes storing a point allocated to said another unit figure, and

wherein said (c) includes giving said points to a plurality of unit figures including said another unit figure of said changed figure representation, respectively, and

wherein said (d) includes outputting said points given to said plurality of unit figures of said changed figure representation.

20. The computer readable recording medium for recording a program for a process according to claim 16, wherein said (b) includes storing said point allocated to said unit figure for each of a plurality of evaluation items, and

wherein said (c) includes giving said points for selected one of said plurality of evaluation items to said plurality of unit figures of said figure representation, respectively, and

wherein said (d) includes outputting said points for said selected one given to said plurality of unit figures of said figure representation.

21. The computer readable recording medium for recording a program for a process according to claim 16, wherein said (c) includes giving said point to one of said plurality of unit figures of said figure representation, every time a signal flowing in said figure representation passes through said one of said plurality of unit figures of said figure representation.

22. The computer readable recording medium for recording a program for a process according to claim 21, wherein said signal includes a plurality of bits, and

wherein said plurality of bits of said signal are passed through said one of said plurality of unit figures in parallel, and

wherein said (b) includes storing said point allocated to said unit figure for each of said plurality of bits, and

wherein said (c) includes giving said point for each of said plurality of bits to said unit figure, and

wherein said (d) includes outputting said point for each of said plurality of bits given to said figure representation.

23. The computer readable recording medium for recording a program for a process according to claim 22, wherein said (d) includes calculating a mean value of said points corresponding to said plurality of bits given to said figure representation, to output.

24. The computer readable recording medium for recording a program for a process according to claim 16, further comprising:

(f) presenting said points outputted by said (d) in graphical form.

25. The computer readable recording medium for recording a program for a process according to claim 24, wherein said (f) includes sorting said points outputted by said (d) to present.