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Patent Title: Encryption of low data content ATM cells

Assignee: IBM
Patent Number: US5642421
Issue Date: 06-24-1997
Application Number:
File Date:09-15-1995


Abstract: The security provided by encryption of ATM cells is enhanced by testing each cell for low data content level. If a cell has a low data content, its contents are nevertheless compressed and the resulting string is used to replace the original data. A length character and a randomly generated number which are added to the freed-up byte positions in the data field of the cell. The entire, modified data field is encrypted before the cell is transmitted. At a receiving system, a compression indicator is checked to determine whether the cell contains original or compressed data. If necessary, the length field and the random number are stripped and the remaining cell data is decompressed before the cell data is decrypted.

Notes:

Link to USPTO

IBM Pledge dated 1/11/2005