Data encryption apparatus

摘要

A data encryption or decryption apparatus for encrypting or decrypting blocks of data. The apparatus includes a data processing pipeline having at least two pipelined data processing modules each arranged to perform an encryption or decryption operation, in conjunction with a respective sub-key. The apparatus further includes a sub-key generating module for generating a respective sub-key for each data processing module and a sub-key skewing module arranged to provide each sub-key to its respective data processing module. The arrangement is such that the sub-key skewing module synchronises the provision of each sub-key to its respective data processing module with the passage of a data block through the data processing pipeline so that the data block is encrypted or decrypted using sub-keys generated from a common primary key. The apparatus is particularly suitable for use in the implementation of the Data Encryption Standard (DES).