DE102020119055A1 - Method and device for entering a cryptological key - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a method for entering a cryptographic key with the following features: a tone sequence (11) is entered and the tone sequence (11) is mapped to the key (15) using a cryptological hash function. The invention also provides a corresponding device, a corresponding computer program and a corresponding storage medium.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for entering a cryptographic key. The present invention also relates to a corresponding device, a corresponding computer program and a corresponding storage medium.

State of the art

In IT security, the proof of a claimed property, in particular of a person who carries out his authentication through his contribution, is referred to as authentication. This authentication, which can be achieved by proving knowledge of information, among other factors, usually allows the person to take further actions.

Secret information is also used in cryptology, for example in the form of keys, in order to parameterize and thus control cryptographic algorithms. In so-called symmetric cryptosystems, such as DES or AES, both communication partners use the same secret key for both encryption and decryption of plain text.

U.S. 2002/014145 A1 discloses a method for encoding lyric in musical score using a look-up table to encode the text.

U.S. 2003/014637 A1 discloses a method for key verification by time-varying elements, where the time-varying element may involve successive generation and playback of audible sounds such as musical notes.

U.S. 2003/116627 A1 discloses a method for inserting a digital watermark on a sheet of music.

U.S. 2016/105278 A1 discloses a method for unlocking the screen of an electronic device using a key, the unlocking code being based on musical notes.

US4022097A discloses a computer based music device.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a method for entering a cryptographic key, a corresponding device, a corresponding computer program and a corresponding storage medium according to the independent claims.

An advantage of this solution lies in the memorability of melodic tone sequences. There are many advantages to memorizing the key in this way: Even non-technical users no longer need to rely on a computer to store the key if it is lost or damaged, allowing them to use secure cryptography.

Further advantageous refinements of the invention are specified in the dependent patent claims. Here's how the key can be used for secure physical transport of encrypted data: the data owner remembers the key and recovers the data at the destination.

The key can also be used as a second factor in two-factor authentication (2FA) if you know the sequence of tones.

Another application could be to place an electronic keyboard at the entrance of a house or facility to prompt a sequence of tones to be played on the keyboard that opens the door.

The key can also be used to start a car as part of a two-factor authentication.

character list

• Die Figur zeigt ein erfindungsgemäßes Gebäude und Auto.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is described in more detail below.

• The figure shows a building and car according to the invention.

Embodiments of the invention

The only figure illustrates the use of a method according to the invention for entering a cryptological key (15), for example for encrypting a document or a file. To do this, a tone sequence (11) is entered and mapped to the key (15) using a cryptological hash function such as SHA-256.

According to the figure, the tone sequence (11) is played in by a pianistically experienced user (10) using a keyboard (12). Nevertheless, the sequence of tones (11) could instead be noted down on a computer, for example using a suitable music notation program, without departing from the scope of the invention.

After the entry, the sequence of tones (11) can first be displayed in a - not shown graphically here ten - express a markup language such as XML whose syntax analysis (parsing) supplies a character string (14) corresponding to the sequence of tones (11). This character string (14) identifies notes and their octaves and any shifts, for example semitones. Optionally, note values, which denote a relative tone duration, or rests can also be taken into account.

The character string (14) obtained in this way is in turn mapped to the actual key (15) using a cryptological hash function. Knowledge of this entitles the user in the application shown to enter the building (13) shown or to start the motor vehicle (16) parked next to it.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• US2002014145A1 [0004]
• US2003014637A1 [0005]
• US2003116627A1 [0006]
• US2016105278A1 [0007]
• US4022097A [0008]

Claims (10)

Method for entering a cryptological key (15), characterized by the following features: - a tone sequence (11) is entered and - the tone sequence (11) is mapped onto the key (15) using a cryptological hash function. procedure after claim 1 , characterized by at least one of the following features: - the tone sequence (11) is noted using a music notation program or - the tone sequence (11) is played using a keyboard (12). procedure after claim 1 or 2 , characterized by the following features: - a plain text is encrypted using the key (15) according to a symmetric cryptosystem and - the plain text is recovered using the key (15) according to the cryptosystem. procedure after claim 1 or 2 , Characterized by the following features: - the key (15) serves as a factor for authentication and - successful authentication requires a further factor. procedure after claim 4 characterized by at least one of the following features: - the authentication that has taken place authorizes access to a building (13) or - the authentication that has taken place authorizes the starting of a motor vehicle (16). Procedure according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized by the following features: - after entering, the sequence of tones (11) is expressed in a markup language and - a character string (14) corresponding to the sequence of tones (11) is obtained by syntax analysis of the markup language. procedure after claim 6 , characterized by at least one of the following features: - the character string (14) characterizes notes, - the character chain (14) characterizes octaves, - the character chain (14) characterizes dislocations, - the character chain (14) takes note values into account, or - the character chain (14 ) takes pauses into account. Device (13, 16) for carrying out a method according to one of Claims 1 until 7 , characterized by the following features: - means for entering a tone sequence (11) and - means for mapping the tone sequence (11) on the key (15) under a cryptological hash function. Computer program which is set up to carry out all the steps of a method according to one of Claims 1 until 7 to perform. Machine-readable storage medium with a computer program stored on it claim 9 .

Images