Secured radio communications method

• US 7,526,090 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2002
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cross, Gary J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoffman; Brandon S
• Application Number:
  US10/042,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20030131231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,666 Days
• Field of Search: 713188-194, 380 28- 30, 380/252
• US Class Current: 380/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication

Abstract

A data processing system, method, and product are disclosed for securing radio transmissions utilizing a conventional radio. A conventional radio and a computer system are provided. The computer system is separate and apart from the conventional radio. The conventional radio is capable of receiving an input analog signal from a microphone and then transmitting the input analog signal. The conventional radio is incapable of encrypting the input analog signal. The computer system is coupled between the microphone and the radio such that inputs into the microphone are received first by the computer system. The computer system receives an input from the microphone, encrypts the input utilizing public key encryption, and passes the encrypted input to the radio. The radio then transmits the encrypted input. Thus, radio transmissions from the conventional radio are secured.

Claims

1. A method for securing radio transmissions utilizing a conventional radio, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a conventional radio, said conventional radio being incapable of encrypting or decrypting signals, said radio including a conventional microphone port that is configured to be coupled to a conventional microphone and a conventional speaker port that is configured to be coupled to a conventional speaker, said radio remaining unmodified;

providing a computer system coupled between a microphone and said radio, wherein inputs into said radio are received first by said computer system, said computer system being separate and apart from said radio;

receiving, within said computer system, an input analog signal from said microphone;

encrypting, within said computer system, said input analog signal utilizing public key encryption to form an encrypted voice file;

passing said encrypted voice file from said computer system to said microphone port that is included within said unmodified radio; and

transmitting said encrypted voice file utilizing said unmodified radio, wherein radio transmissions from said radio are secured.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of encrypting, within said computer system, said input analog signal utilizing a key pair, said key pair including a public key and a private key.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of encrypting, within said computer system, said input analog signal utilizing said public key.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving step comprises:

receiving, within a first application executing within said computer system, said input analog signal from said microphone;

wherein the encrypting step comprises encrypting, utilizing said first application, said input analog signal utilizing public key encryption to form said encrypted voice file;

wherein the passing step comprises passing said encrypted voice file from said first application to said microphone port of said unmodified radio.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving step comprises:

converting, by a microphone driver that is executing within said computer system, said input analog signal to a file, said file being in a standard voice file format;

constantly monitoring, by a first application, inputs received from said microphone; and

detecting, by said first application, a receipt of said file;

wherein the encryption step comprises in response to a detection by said first application of said receipt of said file, encrypting to form said encrypted voice file, by said first application utilizing a public key that is part of a public key/private key pair assigned to said computer system.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a second conventional radio, said second conventional radio being incapable of encrypting or decrypting signals, said second radio including a second microphone port that is configured to be coupled to a second conventional microphone and a second speaker port that is configured to be coupled to a second conventional speaker, said second radio remaining unmodified;

providing a second computer system coupled between said second speaker and said second unmodified radio, wherein outputs from said second radio are received first by said second computer system before being output to said second speaker, said second computer system being separate and apart from said second radio;

receiving, within said second computer system, an encrypted output from said second speaker port included within said unmodified second radio;

decrypting, within said second computer system, said encrypted output utilizing public key encryption to form a decrypted output; and

outputting said decrypted output from said second computer system to said second speaker.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein within said second computer system the step of receiving further comprises:

constantly monitoring, by a second application that is executing within said second computer system, said second speaker port;

receiving, by said second application, said encrypted output from said second speaker port;

wherein the decrypting step comprises decrypting, by said second application, said encrypted output utilizing public key encryption.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining, by said second computer system, a private key of said computer system; and

wherein the decrypting step further comprises decrypting said encrypted output utilizing said private key.

9. The method according to claim 8, farther comprising the step of

exchanging said private key between said computer system and said second computer system prior to transmitting said encrypted voice file.