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US5615266A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Secure communication setup method
Assignee: General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc
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Filing: 1996-01-11
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Granted: 1997-03-25
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Expires: 2016-01-11
Abstract
Abstract A call is connected between secure terminals (16) through a network (12). If a network address for the call is included on an approved list (46), a secure call setup procedure (54) is performed automatically. One terminal (16) automatically sends an auto-secure signal. If the other terminal detects the auto-secure signal, secure call setup procedure (54) is performed automatically. The secure call setup procedure (54) determines a current user-identity for the opposing party. If the current user-identity corresponds to a user-identity included on an approved list (76), an abbreviated secure call setup process (80) is performed. If the current user identity is not approved, a full secure call setup process (78) is performed. The abbreviated process (80) differs from the full process (78) in that it uses a traffic key obtained from a prior secure communication session and may be performed more quickly.
Inventors
- 👤 Barry N. Altschuler
- 👤 Douglas A. Hardy
- 👤 James A. Stephens
- 👤 Joseph Kish, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:26
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/08; H04L9/0891
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of engaging in a secure communication session with one of a plurality of remote terminals, said method comprising the steps of: maintaining a list of approved network addresses; obtaining a current network address for said one remote terminal; determining whether said current network address corresponds to one of said approved network addresses; automatically initiating a secure call setup procedure when said current network address corresponds to one of said approved network addresses; performing a full secure call setup process when no prior secure communication session has been conducted with said one remote terminal; performing an abbreviated secure call setup process when a prior secure communication session has been conducted with said one remote terminal; maintaining a list in which approved user-identities are associated with approved traffic keys, said approved user-identities serving to identify at least some users of said remote terminals; establishing a plain-text communication session with said one remote terminal; receiving, after said automatically initiating step, a current identity from said one remote terminal; determining whether said current identity corresponds to one of said approved user-identities from said list; and effecting said abbreviated secure call setup process performing step when said current identity corresponds to one of said approved user-identities.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of engaging in a secure communication session with one of a plurality of remote terminals, said method comprising the steps of: maintaining a list of approved network addresses; obtaining a current network address for said one remote terminal; determining whether said current network address corresponds to one of said approved network addresses; automatically initiating a secure call setup procedure when said current network address corresponds to one of said approved network addresses; performing a full secure call setup process when no prior secure communication session has been conducted with said one remote terminal; performing an abbreviated secure call setup process when a prior secure communication session has been conducted with said one remote terminal; maintaining a list in which approved user-identities are associated with approved traffic keys, said approved user-identities serving to identify at least some users of said remote terminals; establishing a plain-text communication session with said one remote terminal; receiving, after said automatically initiating step, a current identity from said one remote terminal; determining whether said current identity corresponds to one of said approved user-identities from said list; and effecting said abbreviated secure call setup process performing step when said current identity corresponds to one of said approved user-identities.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method of engaging in a secure communication session as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising the step of sending an auto-secure signal to said one remote terminal, said auto-secure signal serving to request said one remote terminal to automatically send said current identity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method of engaging in a secure communication session as claimed in claim 1 wherein said method additionally comprises the step of effecting said full secure call setup process performing step when said current identity does not correspond to one of said approved user-identities, and said full secure call setup process performing step comprises the steps of: obtaining a new traffic key; and encrypting session data using said new traffic key.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of engaging in a secure communication session as claimed in claim 3 wherein said obtaining a new traffic key step comprises the step of engaging in a public key exchange to generate said new traffic key.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of engaging in a secure communication session with one of a plurality of remote terminals, said method comprising the steps of: establishing a plain next communication session; detecting the receipt of an auto-secure signal from said one remote terminal; automatically initiating a secure call setup procedure in response to said auto-secure signal; performing a full secure call setup process when no prior secure communication session has been conducted with said one remote terminal; performing an abbreviated secure call setup process when a prior secure communication session has been conducted with said one remote terminal; maintaining a list in which approved user-identities are associated with approved traffic keys, said approved user-identities serving to identify at least some users of said remote terminals; receiving, after said automatically initiating step, a current identity from said one remote terminal; determining whether said current identity corresponds to one of said approved user-identities from said list; and effecting said abbreviated secure call setup process performing step when said current identity corresponds to one of said approved user-identities.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of engaging in a secure communication session with one of a plurality of remote terminals, said method comprising the steps of: establishing a plain next communication session; detecting the receipt of an auto-secure signal from said one remote terminal; automatically initiating a secure call setup procedure in response to said auto-secure signal; performing a full secure call setup process when no prior secure communication session has been conducted with said one remote terminal; performing an abbreviated secure call setup process when a prior secure communication session has been conducted with said one remote terminal; maintaining a list in which approved user-identities are associated with approved traffic keys, said approved user-identities serving to identify at least some users of said remote terminals; receiving, after said automatically initiating step, a current identity from said one remote terminal; determining whether said current identity corresponds to one of said approved user-identities from said list; and effecting said abbreviated secure call setup process performing step when said current identity corresponds to one of said approved user-identities.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method of engaging in a secure communication session as claimed in claim 5 additionally comprising the step of sending an auto-secure signal to said one remote terminal, said auto-secure signal serving to request said one remote terminal to automatically send said current identity.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of engaging in a secure communication session with one of a plurality of remote terminals, said method comprising the steps of: detecting the receipt of an auto-secure signal from said one remote terminal; automatically initiating a secure call setup procedure in response to said auto-secure signal; performing said full secure call setup process when no prior secure communication session has been conducted with said one remote terminal; performing an abbreviated secure call setup process when a prior secure communication session has been conducted with said one remote terminal; maintaining a list in which approved user-identities are associated with approved traffic keys, said approved user-identities serving to identify at least some users of said remote terminals; initiating a plain-text communication session with said one remote terminal; receiving a current identity from said one remote terminal; determining whether said current identity corresponds to one of said approved user-identities from said list; and when said current identity corresponds to one of said approved user-identities, encrypting session data using one of said approved traffic keys that is associated in said list with one approved user-identity to which said current identity corresponds.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of engaging in a secure communication session with one of a plurality of remote terminals, said method comprising the steps of: detecting the receipt of an auto-secure signal from said one remote terminal; automatically initiating a secure call setup procedure in response to said auto-secure signal; performing said full secure call setup process when no prior secure communication session has been conducted with said one remote terminal; performing an abbreviated secure call setup process when a prior secure communication session has been conducted with said one remote terminal; maintaining a list in which approved user-identities are associated with approved traffic keys, said approved user-identities serving to identify at least some users of said remote terminals; initiating a plain-text communication session with said one remote terminal; receiving a current identity from said one remote terminal; determining whether said current identity corresponds to one of said approved user-identities from said list; and when said current identity corresponds to one of said approved user-identities, encrypting session data using one of said approved traffic keys that is associated in said list with one approved user-identity to which said current identity corresponds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method of engaging in a secure communication session as claimed in claim 7 additionally comprising the steps of: obtaining a new traffic key when said current identity does not correspond to one of said approved user-identities; and encrypting session data using said new traffic key when said current identity does not correspond to one of said approved user-identities.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of engaging in a secure communication session as claimed in claim 8 wherein said obtaining step comprises the step of engaging in a public key exchange to generate said new traffic key.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method of engaging in a secure communication session as claimed in claim 7 additionally comprising the steps of: generating a future approved traffic key; and updating said list to associate said future approved traffic key with said one approved user-identity to which said current identity corresponds.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method of engaging in a secure communication session as claimed in claim 10 wherein: said secure communication session occurs during said encrypting step; said communication session continues for a variable duration; and said generating and updating steps occur approximately at the beginning of said variable duration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method of engaging in a secure communication session as claimed in claim 7 wherein said maintaining step additionally records a list of approved network addresses, and said initiating step comprises the steps of: obtaining a current network address for said one remote terminal; determining whether said current network address corresponds to one of said approved network addresses; and automatically performing said receiving, determining, and encrypting steps when said current network address corresponds to one of said approved network addresses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of engaging in a secure communication session as claimed in claim 7 additionally comprising the steps of: detecting the receipt of an auto-secure signal from said one remote terminal; and interpreting said auto-secure signal as a request to automatically establish a secure communication session.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method of engaging in a secure communication session as claimed in claim 7 wherein said initiating step comprises the step of sending an auto-secure signal to said one remote terminal, said auto-secure signal requesting said one remote terminal to transmit said current identity.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-03-24 | 2000-09-23 | 2001-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-24 | 2004-09-23 | 2005-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-24 | 2008-09-23 | 2009-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |