JPH03236084A - Secret key information input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the storage and the input of a cipher key to a system by a handler and to obtain secret key information by providing each language character with characteristic code sequence information and converting character information which is inputted into a code sequence. CONSTITUTION:A character code of each KANJI(Chinese character) is a binary series which is individually determined for the system so as to keep the secret. A code conversion part 3 converts a selected character code into the specific binary series, which is supplied to a deciphering device 4a, where the informa tion is deciphered and outputted. When the cipher key of the binary series is determined and used, the handler inputs the Japanese rendering or phonetic rendering of KANJI corresponding to the binary series as a determined cipher key through a keyboard 1 to use the system. Then this input is converted into KANJI at a Japanese input part 2, so the storage and input of the cipher key to the system by the handler are facilitated and the secret information is obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a secret key information input device that facilitates storing and inputting secret key information such as an encryption key.

(Prior art) When performing communications that require secrecy, operating a system that only authorized specific persons are allowed to operate, or operating a system that requires security, it is necessary to ensure that the information exchanged is not leaked to others. In order to do this, there is a secret key cryptosystem in which information is encrypted using key information and then restored by decrypting it using the key information.

With secret-key cryptography, which has been widely used in the past, if the key information necessary for encryption and decryption is leaked, secrecy cannot be maintained. It can be said that it depends on whether or not the encryption key can be kept secretly from other people.

On the other hand, encryption keys increasingly have a large number of digits in order to increase their confidentiality, making it extremely difficult for those who handle them to recite them. Therefore, the encryption key information is stored in a hard copy or paper tape, and is referred to when using the system.

Encryption key information in the form of hard copies or paper tapes can easily be decrypted if it falls into the hands of outsiders, so it must be stored and managed with care, so it is not normally used. The items were kept in a lockable safe, etc.

However, in the case of a secret communication system that is deployed outdoors, such storage cannot be expected, and since the encryption key has many digits, it is extremely difficult for the operator to memorize it and use it. It is.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the secret key cryptosystem, it can be said that the security of the system depends on the secret storage of the cryptographic key. In addition, in order to increase confidentiality, the number of digits in the encryption key is quite large, making it nearly impossible for the person handling it to memorize it, and the encryption key is occasionally changed to reduce the possibility of deciphering by outsiders. It is common that

In such cases, it is common for the handler to record them, often in the form of notes, but this practice sometimes leads to the disclosure of the encryption key. It is also possible that the memo may be lost. Furthermore, inputting a multi-digit encryption key into the system is difficult, and erroneous input is unavoidable, which poses an operational obstacle.

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to prevent the storage of encryption keys by the handler and input into the system [Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above purpose, the present invention has the following features: Configure it as follows. In other words, as a device for inputting key information used in a system that uses code string key information to maintain the security of information, it has an input means for inputting Japanese character information and a system that is compatible with national language characters in advance. A conversion means is provided for converting the respective determined unique code string information into a code string unique to the character information and converting the Japanese character information inputted by the input means into a code string unique to the character information.

(Function) In such a configuration, when the input means is operated to input desired national language character information, the conversion means corresponds to the input character from among unique code string information predetermined to correspond to each national language character. Obtain a unique code string and output it.

In this way, code strings unique to character information obtained from Japanese character information are used as key information for systems that use code string key information to maintain information security. Information can be memorized in Japanese characters, and key information can be entered by inputting Japanese characters, so for example, kanji used in Japanese can be used as Japanese characters. A code string consisting of multiple bits, such as a binary number string, is associated with each of these Japanese characters, and in a system that uses a secret key, one or more characters such as kanji are selected as key information, and the character information is handled. By using a code string such as a binary number string, it is possible to easily use complex key information.Moreover, if it is a meaningful Japanese character string, it is extremely easy to memorize it. If the key information is entered in Japanese characters, the code can be converted and input into the system, which reduces the chance of key information being entered incorrectly.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a private key information input device that is easy to handle and has sufficient security effects.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a keyboard, 2 is a Japanese input section, 3 is a code conversion section, 4a is an encryption device, and 31 is an encryption key code signal. . The keyboard 1 is used to input character codes, control codes, etc., and an ASCII keyboard or a JIS keyboard is used, but any keyboard can be used as long as it can input kana, katakana, alphabet, etc. as data. Japanese input section 2 is this keyboard 1
This converts the data entered by keystrokes into Japanese characters including kanji.Each character of the kanji is registered as the reading of the sound or kun or both. Alternatively, when you input katakana or romaji, the kanji that corresponds to the reading from among the registered kanji are extracted, for example by kana-kanji conversion, and displayed on a display (not shown). If there are many extracted kanji, the keyboard 1 You can select the desired one by specifying it and confirming it.

The code conversion unit 3 receives the character code of the selected kanji, etc., and converts it into a predetermined binary number string corresponding to the character code, and may be a binary notation of the character code of each character, such as the kanji. However, in order to maintain secrecy, it is better to use a special binary number sequence that is uniquely determined by the system for each character code. The encryption device 4a is a device that encrypts information using the binary number sequence provided by the code converter 3 and outputs the encrypted information.

In such a configuration, the system determines and sets an encryption key in the form of a binary number sequence in advance for use. Since the binary number string serving as the encryption key can be specified by the Japanese characters corresponding to this binary number string, the operator memorizes the Japanese characters serving as the encryption key. When using the system, the operator inputs from the keyboard 1 the sound or precept of the Japanese kanji character corresponding to this predetermined binary number sequence as the encryption key.

Input from the keyboard 1 is converted into kanji by the Japanese input section 2. Of course, if you select characters such as hiragana or katakana, you can convert them to those characters.

When inputting kanji, if there are kanji with the same sound or precept, the operator operates the keyboard 1 to select the desired kanji. In this way, when the required number of kanji characters, etc. have been input, they are converted into a binary number string by the code converter 3, and are sent to the encryption device 4 as the encryption key code input 31.
input to a. Then, the encryption device 4a receives this encryption key code input 31 and encrypts the information.

Figure 2 shows an example of a decryption device, but in the same way, in the decryption device 4b, the reading of the Japanese character of the encryption key is input from the keyboard 1 to the Japanese input section 2, and if it is a kanji, the required kanji is selected. The character code is converted into a character code, and this is given to the code converter 3, which converts it into a code string corresponding to the character code determined by the system, for example, a binary number string, and inputs it into the decoding device 4b. Then, the decryption device 4b decrypts the encrypted information using this binary number sequence as a decryption key.

Although the above description has focused on the encryption and decryption of information, the present invention can also be used to check whether or not the user is the legitimate user when operating the system. For example, I
By using the Japanese character-code string (for example, binary number string) conversion input of the present invention as key information, which is D information and verification information, complex key information can be easily memorized and input without errors. In addition to making it extremely easy for anyone to use, it also enables strict security management.

In addition, to make Japanese kanji correspond to a binary number sequence, for example,
J I S [rft (7) 20g of XO was constructed. As a result, when a commercially available personal computer or the like is used as an encryption device, there is an advantage that the Japanese input function and code conversion function of the personal computer can be used as the above-mentioned Japanese input section 2 and code conversion section 3. However, from the viewpoint of confidentiality, it is considered better to have a unique conversion table.

In this way, in the present invention, a unique binary number sequence is associated with each Japanese language character, such as kanji, hiragana, katakana, etc. used in Japanese in the case of Japan, and keys such as encryption keys in a private key cryptosystem are used. As information, one or more Japanese characters are selected as a character string, and a binary number string determined by the selected character string is used. The operator then stores this Japanese character string as key information. Also, systems that require key information (including encryption devices, decryption devices, etc.)
When inputting key information to , each character of the above character string is input and selected by sound or kun.

Generally, in private key cryptosystems, a multi-digit number sequence is used as key information in order to increase confidentiality, but it is not easy for the operator to memorize this key information. Particularly when key information is frequently changed, confusion between old and new key information is likely to occur.

In the present invention, the code string (binary number string in the embodiment) as the key information includes kanji and kana, which are familiar to Japanese people in Japan.
Japanese characters, including katakana, etc., are supported, and when key information is input in Japanese characters, it is converted into a code string corresponding to that character and input into the system, making it easy to store key information and input it to the device. This can be done using the corresponding Japanese characters, making it easy to store and input key information.In particular, by giving significance to the Japanese character strings selected at the key information selection stage, confidentiality strength can be maintained. It will also be possible to improve the convenience of users.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within the scope of the gist.For example, in the above embodiments, Although we have assumed that ideograms are used in other languages, the concept of the present invention can be applied as is, and if the language uses only phonograms, the concept of the present invention can be applied on a word-by-word basis. For example, if you apply
It is possible to implement.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, the present invention makes it easier for the user to memorize the Japanese kanji by making the encryption key of the secret key encryption system correspond to the encryption key of the secret key encryption system. This method has the advantage that there are fewer erroneous inputs than when entering a multi-digit number.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are block diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1...Keyboard, 2...Japanese input section, 3...
Code converter, 4a... Encryption device, 4b... Decryption device, 31... Encryption key code input.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A device for inputting key information used in a system that maintains the security of information by using key information of a code string, comprising an input means for inputting Japanese character information, and a converting means that has unique code string information determined for each Japanese language character, and converts the Japanese language character information inputted by the input means into a code string unique to the character information and outputs it. A private key information input device characterized by: