UNIVERSAL AUTHENTICATION DEVICE FOR USE OVER TELEPHONE LINES

摘要

A method is provided for securely transmitting information from a telephone to a calling party over a telephone network. In accordance with the method, encrypted audio signals are received from the telephone over a communication path to an authentication mechanism that may be located in the telephone network. The communication path is then disabled by placing the telephone is a hold state. The encrypted audio signals are decrypted to yield decrypted audio signals. The decrypted audio signals are transmitted to the calling party while the communication path is disabled. Finally, a communication path is enabled from the telephone to the calling party subsequent to transmitting the decrypted audio signals. This method provides a high degree of security since the communication path between the user and the authentication mechanism is disabled when the decrypted message is transmitted to the called party. Accordingly, if a party were to intercept the communication path between the user and the authentication mechanism (such as a listener using a receiver to intercept a wireless telephone transmission), the party could not intercept the decrypted message.