Portable keying device and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A portable keying device for installing an encryption key into at least one electronic terminal, the portable keying device comprising:
- a memory device for storing the at least one encryption key; and
a communications unit coupled to said memory device, the communications unit being operative to transmit said at least one encryption key to an electronic terminal according to a pre-determined format, said electronic terminal including a secure memory location for storing said encryption key, said pre-determined format including transmission of an RF signal at a predetermined power level of less than or equal to 1 mW, and transmission of said RF signal in a direction that resides within an angular range of plus or minus 15 degrees or less of a certain direction, and the transmission of said RF signal having a predetermined polarity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable encryption key installation system is disclosed that includes a portable keying device for installing a data communications encryption in an electronic terminal. The portable keying device securely reprograms the encryption key in the electronic terminal without having to remove the terminal from its shipping container or ship the electronic terminal off-site. Furthermore, the portable keying device securely reprograms the encryption key in the electronic terminal without having to dismantle the terminal, de-activate any anti-tampering features, or re-bond the terminal.
70 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A portable keying device for installing an encryption key into at least one electronic terminal, the portable keying device comprising:
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a memory device for storing the at least one encryption key; and a communications unit coupled to said memory device, the communications unit being operative to transmit said at least one encryption key to an electronic terminal according to a pre-determined format, said electronic terminal including a secure memory location for storing said encryption key, said pre-determined format including transmission of an RF signal at a predetermined power level of less than or equal to 1 mW, and transmission of said RF signal in a direction that resides within an angular range of plus or minus 15 degrees or less of a certain direction, and the transmission of said RF signal having a predetermined polarity.
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2. A portable keying device that is configured for installing at least one encryption key into at least one electronic terminal, said portable keying device comprising:
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a memory device for storing at least one encryption key; and a communications unit coupled to said memory device, said communications unit being operative to transmit said at least one encryption key in a predetermined format to at least one electronic terminal, said predetermined format including transmission of an RF signal at a predetermined power level, said predetermined format further including a signal being transmitted from said portable keying device in a predetermined direction; said at least one electronic terminal includes a secure memory location for storing at least one data communications encryption key and is configured to employ said encryption key for the purpose of encrypting input data. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for installing an encryption key in an electronic terminal, the electronic terminal including a secure encryption key memory location for storing the at least one encryption key, the method comprising:
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providing a portable keying device, whereby the portable keying device is physically separated from the electronic terminal, said portable keying device being configured to transmit said at least one encryption key in a predetermined format to the electronic terminal, said predetermined format including a signal having an effective transmitting range of less than or equal to one meter, said predetermined format further including a signal being transmitted in a predetermined direction from said portable keying device; pointing said portable keying device toward said electronic terminal; performing a handshaking routine, whereby the keying device and the electronic terminal exchange handshaking messages; transmitting an encryption key from the portable keying device to the electronic terminal; and storing the encryption key transmitted from the portable keying device to the electronic terminal in the secure key memory location. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A portable key installation system for installing an encryption key, the system comprising:
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at least one electronic terminal having a secure encryption key memory adapted to store the at least one encryption key, and a terminal communications unit coupled to the secure encryption key memory; and a portable keying device including a memory adapted to store the at least one encryption key, and a device communications unit coupled to the memory device, the device communications unit being adapted to bi-directionally communicate the at least one encryption key in a predetermined format to the terminal communications unit, said predetermined format including transmission of an RF signal at a predetermined power level, said predetermined format further including a signal being transmitted in a predetermined direction from said portable keying device. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification