VERFAHREN UND VORRICHTUNG ZUM SCHUTZ DER GEHEIMELEMENTE IN EINEM NETZ VON CHIFFRIERGERAETEN MIT OFFENER SCHLUESSEL-VERWALTUNG.

摘要

Each cryptographic device in the communication network is divided into a base unit (B) and a security module (T), detachable therefrom, in the form of a credit card. This security module contains the functional levels required in order to encipher/decipher codes (KD) of lower hierarchical levels among codes (KK) of higher hierarchical levels, and thus the secret elements of the network. The base units contain no actual secret elements. The secret elements are stored, preferably in cryptologically secure form, in the security module. The password system also provided therein protects against unauthorised use.