On-the-fly encryption/decryption for WLAN communications

US7505598B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Matthias Baer · Hohenstein-Ernstthal, DE
• Uwe Eckhardt · Dresden, DE
• Attila Roemer · Dresden, DE
• Ralf Flemming · Baiersbronn, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 26, 2004
• Grant date: Mar 17, 2009
• Expiry date: Jan 23, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04W84/12
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A communication device for performing cryptographically secured communication in a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) network is provided that comprises a security enhancement unit and a MAC (Medium Access Control) unit. The security enhancement unit is for encrypting plaintext data frames into encrypted data frames and/or decrypting encrypted data frames into plaintext data frames. The MAC unit is for managing communication between communication devices within the WLAN network by coordinating access to a shared wireless communication medium through which communication signals are transmitted. The security enhancement unit and the MAC unit are adapted to perform an on-the-fly encryption process and/or on-the-fly decryption process thereby exchanging the encrypted data frames without buffering the encrypted data frames after encryption or prior to decryption, respectively. The embodiments may provide an improved encryption/decryption architecture including an on-chip memory for performing on-the-fly encryption and/or on-the-fly decryption in the framework of 802.11i security enhancement.