Modular cryptographic device providing enhanced interface protocol features and related methods
First Claim
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1. A cryptographic device comprising:
- a cryptographic module and a communications module removably coupled thereto;
said cryptographic module comprising a user network interface and a cryptographic processor coupled thereto;
said communications module comprising a network communications interface coupled to said cryptographic processor;
said cryptographic processor communicating with said user network interface using a Media Independent Interface (MII) and a serial interface, and said cryptographic processor communicating with said network communications interface using the MII and the serial interface;
said cryptographic module and said communications module communicating using the MII to transfer encrypted data therebetween and using the serial interface to transfer communications module configuration operations therebetween.
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Abstract
A cryptographic device may include a cryptographic module and a communications module coupled thereto. The cryptographic module may include a user network interface and a cryptographic processor coupled thereto. The communications module may include a network communications interface coupled to the cryptographic processor. The cryptographic processor may communicate with the user network interface using a predetermined protocol, and the cryptographic processor may also communicate with the network communications interface using the predetermined protocol.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A cryptographic device comprising:
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a cryptographic module and a communications module removably coupled thereto; said cryptographic module comprising a user network interface and a cryptographic processor coupled thereto; said communications module comprising a network communications interface coupled to said cryptographic processor; said cryptographic processor communicating with said user network interface using a Media Independent Interface (MII) and a serial interface, and said cryptographic processor communicating with said network communications interface using the MII and the serial interface; said cryptographic module and said communications module communicating using the MII to transfer encrypted data therebetween and using the serial interface to transfer communications module configuration operations therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A cryptographic device comprising:
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a cryptographic module and a communications module coupled thereto; said cryptographic module comprising a user Local Area Network (LAN) interface and a cryptographic processor coupled thereto; said communications module comprising a network LAN interface coupled to said cryptographic processor; said cryptographic processor communicating with said user network interface using a Media Independent Interface (MII) and a serial interface, and said cryptographic processor communicating with said network LAN interface using the MII and the serial interface; said cryptographic module and said communications module both operating using at least one unique external media access control (MAC) address, and at least one fixed internal MAC address; said cryptographic module and said communications module communicating using the MII to transfer encrypted data therebetween and using the serial interface to transfer communications module configuration operations therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A communications method comprising:
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removably coupling a cryptographic module to a network device, the cryptographic module comprising a user network interface and a cryptographic processor coupled thereto; providing a communications module comprising a network communications interface coupled to the cryptographic processor; using the cryptographic processor to communicate with the user network interface and the network communications interface using a Media Independent Interface (MII) and a serial interface; and using the network communications interface to communicate with a network; using the cryptographic module and the communications module to communicate using the MII to transfer encrypted data therebetween and using the serial interface to transfer communications module configuration operations therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A communications system comprising:
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a plurality of network devices coupled together to define a network, and a cryptographic device removably coupled to at least one of said network devices; said cryptographic device comprising a cryptographic module coupled to said at least one network device, and a communications module coupled to said cryptographic module; said cryptographic module comprising a user network interface and a cryptographic processor coupled thereto; said communications module comprising a network communications interface coupled to said cryptographic processor; said cryptographic processor communicating with said user network interface using a Media Independent Interface (MII) and a serial interface, and said cryptographic processor communicating with said network communications interface using the MII and the serial interface; said cryptographic module and said communications module communicating using the MII to transfer encrypted data therebetween and using the serial interface to transfer communications module configuration operations therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A cryptographic module comprising:
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a user network interface; and a cryptographic processor removably coupled to said user network interface; said cryptographic processor for communicating with said user network interface using a Media Independent Interface (MII) and a serial interface, and also for communicating with a network communications module using the MII and the serial interface; said cryptographic module and said communications module communicating using the MII to transfer encrypted data therebetween and using the serial interface to transfer communications module configuration operations therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification