Solid state key for controlling access to computer systems and to computer software and/or for secure communications

Claim 1

Apparatus for affording access by a user to a computer and/or information residing in a computer, and/or for affording secure communications and comprising an access key capable of generating a password and of being transported independently of the computer, and an access key for verification means adapted to be resident in the computer, for allowing access and use of the software program wherein: said access key includes: (a) first clock means for generating a signal; (b) means for storing a root; (c) forward algorithm means coupled to said clock means and root storing means for encrypting the root, responsive to the signal from said clock means, into a password; said access key verification means includes: (a) second clock means for generating a signal; (b) means for receiving the password; (c) inverse algorithm means coupled to said second clock means for decrypting the password and for calculating the root; (d) means for generating a stimulus and for communication said stimulus to said inverse algorithm means and said access key; (e) said inverse algorithm means including means for using the stimulus to calculate the root from the password; said access key includes: (a) means for receiving the stimulus and communicating the stimulus to said forward algorithm means; (b) wherein said forward algorithm means includes means for combining the stimulus with the root to produce the password; (c) means for saving at least a portion of stimulus member; (d) means for comparing the saved portion of the stimulus number with the next available stimulus number; (e) means for inverting at least part of the root before the root is communicated to the forward algorithm module responsive to the comparing means if the saved portion does not have a predescribed relationship with the next available stimulus number; and said access key verification means includes: (a) second means for saving at least a portion of the stimulus number; (b) means for merging the saved portion of the stimulus number with the next stimulus number; (c) second means for storing at least a portion of the root; (d) means for comparing the portion of the root number saved in the second storing means with the calculated root; (e) means for generating a suspicion signal depending on whether there is a predetermined relationship between the calculated root and the saved portion of the root.

Claim 7

A system for transmitting information in a secure fashion comprising: a first access key capable of generating a password and adapted to be transported independently of a computer; wherein said first access key includes: (a) first means for storing a root; (b) first forward algorithm means coupled to said first root storing means for encrypting the root into a password; a first access key verification means adapted to reside in or function with a computer for receiving a password generated by the first access key and for encrypting the information to be transmitted based on the root calculated from the password; wherein said first access key verification means includes: (a) first inverse algorithm means for receiving and decrypting the password for calculating the root in order to encrypt the information; (b) encrypt module means for using the root to encrypt the information; a second access key capable of generating another password and adapted to be transported independently of another computer; wherein said second access key includes: (a) second means for storing the root; (b) second forward algorithm means coupled to said second root storing means for encrypting the root into another password; a second access key verification means adapted to reside in or function with the another computer for receiving the another password generated by the second access key and for decrypting the encrypted information based on a value calculated from the password; and wherein said second access key verification means includes: (a) second inverse algorithm means for receiving and decrypting the another password for calculating the root in order to decrypt the information; (b) decrypt module means for using the root to decrypt the information.

Claim 8

A system for transmitting information in a secure fashion comprising: a first access key capable of generating a password and adapted to be transported independently of a computer; wherein said first access key includes: (a) first means for storing a root; (b) first forward algorithm means coupled to said first root storing means for encrypting the root into a password; a first access key verification means adapted to reside in or function with a computer for receiving a password generated by the first access key and for encrypting the information to be transmitted based on the root calculated from the password; wherein said first access key verification means includes: (a) first inverse algorithm means for receiving and decrypting the password for calculating the root in order to encrypt the information; (b) encrypt module means for using the root to encrypt the information; a second access key capable of generating another password and adapted to be transported independently of another computer; wherein said second access key includes: (a) second means for storing the root; (b) second forward algorithm means coupled to said second root storing means for encrypting the root into another password; a second access key verification means adapted to reside in or function with the another computer for receiving the another password generated by the second access key and for decrypting the encrypted information based on a value calculated from the password; and wherein said second access key verification means includes: (a) second inverse algorithm means for receiving and decrypting the another password for calculating the root in order to decrypt the information; (b) decrypt module means for using the root to decrypt the information.

Claim 10

A system for protecting information residing in a computer and/or for affording secure communication comprising: means separate from the computer for encrypting information in accordance with a root; an access key capable of generating a password in accordance with the root and of being transported independently of a computer; wherein said access key includes: (a) first clock means for generating a signal that is dependent on the elapse of time; (b) means for storing the root; (c) forward algorithm means coupled to said clock means and root storing means for encrypting the root into a password responsive to the signal from said clock means; an access key verification means, adapted to reside in or function with the computer, for using the password to calculate the root and to decrypt the encrypted information with the root; wherein said access key verification means includes: (a) second clock means for generating a signal that is dependent on the elapse of time; (b) means for receiving the password; (c) inverse algorithm means coupled to said second clock means for decrypting the password for calculating the root.

Claim 11

A system for protecting information residing in a computer and/or for affording secure communication comprising: means separate from the computer for encrypting information in accordance with a root; an access key capable of generating a password in accordance with the root and of being transported independently of a computer; wherein said access key includes: (a) first clock means for generating a signal that is dependent on the elapse of time; (b) means for storing the root; (c) forward algorithm means coupled to said clock means and root storing means for encrypting the root into a password responsive to the signal from said clock means; an access key verification means, adapted to reside in or function with the computer, for using the password to calculate the root and to decrypt the encrypted information with the root; wherein said access key verification means includes: (a) second clock means for generating a signal that is dependent on the elapse of time; (b) means for receiving the password; (c) inverse algorithm means coupled to said second clock means for decrypting the password for calculating the root.

Claim 16

A system for communicating secure information including: an information sender having (a) a first clock means for generating a signal that is dependent on the elapse of time; (b) means for storing a root; (c) forward algorithm means coupled to said clock means and root storing means for encrypting the root, responsive to the signal from said first clock, into a password and for sending said password; (d) encryption means coupled to said root storing means for encrypting information input to the sender in accordance with the root and for sending encrypted information; an information receiver having: (a) a second clock means for generating a signal that is dependent on the elapse of time; (b) inverse algorithm means coupled to said second clock means for receiving the password and for calculating said root in accordance with the signal from the second clock means and said password; (c) decryption module means for receiving said encrypted data and coupled to said inverse algorithm means for receiving said calculated root and for decrypting the encrypted data.

Claim 17

A system for communicating secure information including: an information sender having (a) a first clock means for generating a signal that is dependent on the elapse of time; (b) means for storing a root; (c) forward algorithm means coupled to said clock means and root storing means for encrypting the root, responsive to the signal from said first clock, into a password and for sending said password; (d) encryption means coupled to said root storing means for encrypting information input to the sender in accordance with the root and for sending encrypted information; an information receiver having: (a) a second clock means for generating a signal that is dependent on the elapse of time; (b) inverse algorithm means coupled to said second clock means for receiving the password and for calculating said root in accordance with the signal from the second clock means and said password; (c) decryption module means for receiving said encrypted data and coupled to said inverse algorithm means for receiving said calculated root and for decrypting the encrypted data.

Claim 21

A system for transporting valuable data in a highly portable, secure fashion comprising a portable key in which the valuable data can be stored and data extraction means adapted resident in or function of a computer for extraction of the data from the key wherein: said key includes: (a) first clock means for generating a signal that is dependent on the elapse of time; (b) means for storing the data; (c) forward algorithm means coupled to said clock means and data storing means for encrypting the data into a password responsive to the signal from said clock means; said data extraction means includes: (a) second clock means for generating a signal that is dependent on the elapse of time; (b) means for receiving the password; (c) inverse algorithm means coupled to said second clock means for decrypting the password in order to calculate the data.

Claim 22

A system for transporting valuable data in a highly portable, secure fashion comprising a portable key in which the valuable data can be stored and data extraction means adapted resident in or function of a computer for extraction of the data from the key wherein: said key includes: (a) first clock means for generating a signal that is dependent on the elapse of time; (b) means for storing the data; (c) forward algorithm means coupled to said clock means and data storing means for encrypting the data into a password responsive to the signal from said clock means; said data extraction means includes: (a) second clock means for generating a signal that is dependent on the elapse of time; (b) means for receiving the password; (c) inverse algorithm means coupled to said second clock means for decrypting the password in order to calculate the data.

Claim 24

A system for affording access by a user to a computer and/or information residing in a computer with an output device, comprising access key verification means adapted to be resident in or function with the computer, for verfying an encrypted password and allowing access to the computer and/or use of the information, an access key capable of generating an encrypted password and of being transported independently of the computer, and a keypad for facilitating communication between the access key and the access key verification means, wherein: said access key verification means includes: (a) first clock means for generating a signal that is dependent on the elapse of time; (b) a stimulus number generating means for generating a stimulus number; (c) means for generating a signal on the display that is representative of said stimulus number; and said access key includes: (a) second clock means for generating another signal that is dependent on the elapse of time; (b) means for storing a root; (c) at least one sensor accessible from the exterior of said access key, said keypad includes: (a) means for entering the stimulus number (b) excitation means communicating with the stimulus entering means for exciting the sensor of the access key when the excitation means of the keypad is adjacent the sensor of the access key for communicating the stimulus number to the access key; said access key further includes: (a) means coupled to said sensor for using the signal to produce the stimulus number; (b) password generating means for encrypting said another signal produced by said second clock means and said stimulus number and said root for producing an encrypted password; (c) displaying means communicating with the password generating means for display at least part of said encrypted password, so that the user can input the encrypted password into the computer; wherein said access key verification means further includes: (a) means for decrypting the encrypted password displayed on the access key to calculate said root.

Claim 25

A system for affording access by a user to a computer and/or information residing in a computer with an output device, comprising access key verification means adapted to be resident in or function with the computer, for verfying an encrypted password and allowing access to the computer and/or use of the information, an access key capable of generating an encrypted password and of being transported independently of the computer, and a keypad for facilitating communication between the access key and the access key verification means, wherein: said access key verification means includes: (a) first clock means for generating a signal that is dependent on the elapse of time; (b) a stimulus number generating means for generating a stimulus number; (c) means for generating a signal on the display that is representative of said stimulus number; and said access key includes: (a) second clock means for generating another signal that is dependent on the elapse of time; (b) means for storing a root; (c) at least one sensor accessible from the exterior of said access key, said keypad includes: (a) means for entering the stimulus number (b) excitation means communicating with the stimulus entering means for exciting the sensor of the access key when the excitation means of the keypad is adjacent the sensor of the access key for communicating the stimulus number to the access key; said access key further includes: (a) means coupled to said sensor for using the signal to produce the stimulus number; (b) password generating means for encrypting said another signal produced by said second clock means and said stimulus number and said root for producing an encrypted password; (c) displaying means communicating with the password generating means for display at least part of said encrypted password, so that the user can input the encrypted password into the computer; wherein said access key verification means further includes: (a) means for decrypting the encrypted password displayed on the access key to calculate said root.