Method and arrangement for variably generating cryptographic securities in a host device

A computed-implemented method for variably generating cryptographic securities for communications, involving a host device, comprising the steps of:

• cryptographically securing a communication for a first purpose using a first signature;
• cryptographically securing a communication for a second purpose using a second signature;
• in a processor, using a cryptographic algorithm of a first type to generate said first signature;
• using a cryptographic algorithm of a second type in said processor to generate said second signature, said cryptographic algorithms of said first type and said second type, for a same input set, respectively generating different respective outputs from said processor;
• entering an input set into said processor for a current communication together with an entry designating whether said current communication is for said first purpose or for said second purpose;
• when said current communication is designated for said first purpose, operating on said input set in said processor for said current communication with said cryptographic algorithm of said first type to secure said current communication with said first signature and emitting said current communication secured with said first signature as a secured communication output from said processor;
• when said current communication is designated for said second purpose, operating on the same input set in said processor for said current communication with said cryptographic algorithm of said second type to secure said current communication with said second signature and emitting said current communication secured with said second signature as a secured communication output from said processor;
• generating said first signature exclusively in a first logic circuit module that executes said cryptographic algorithm of said first type therein under control of a first implementation program;
• and
• generating said second signature exclusively in a second logic circuit module by executing said cryptographic algorithm of said second type therein under control of a second implementation program;
• storing said first and second implementation programs in a postal security device accessible by each of said first and second logic circuit modules;
• accessing said first implementation program in said postal security device from said first logic circuit module when said current communication is designated for said first purpose;
• and
• accessing said implementation program in said postal security device from said second logic circuit module when said current communication is designated for said second purpose.

A computed-implemented method for variably generating cryptographic securities for communications, involving a host device containing a postal security device, comprising the steps of:

• cryptographically securing a communication for a first purpose using a first signature;
• cryptographically securing a communication for a second purpose using a second signature;
• in a processor, using a cryptographic algorithm of a first type to generate said first signature;
• using a cryptographic algorithm of a second type in said processor to generate said second signature, said cryptographic algorithms of said first type and said second type, for a same input set, respectively generating different respective outputs from said processor;
• entering an input set into said processor for a current communication together with an entry designating whether said current communication is for said first purpose or for said second purpose;
• when said current communication is designated for said first purpose, operating on said input set in said processor for said current communication with said cryptographic algorithm of said first type to secure said current communication with said first signature and emitting said current communication secured with said first signature as a secured communication output from said processor;
• when said current communication is designated for said second purpose, operating on the same input set in said processor for said current communication with said cryptographic algorithm of said second type to secure said current communication with said second signature and emitting said current communication secured with said second signature as a secured communication output from said processor;
• generating said first signature exclusively in a first logic circuit module that executes said cryptographic algorithm of said first type therein under control of a first implementation program;
• and
• generating said second signature exclusively in a second logic circuit module by executing said cryptographic algorithm of said second type therein under control of a second implementation program;
• storing said first implementation program in a memory of said host device outside of said postal security device;
• and
• storing said second implementation program in said memory of said host device outside of said postal security device;
• accessing said first implementation program in said memory from said first logic circuit module when said current communication is for said first purpose;
• and
• accessing said second implementation program in said memory from said second logic circuit module when said current communication is for said second purpose.

A computed-implemented method for variably generating cryptographic securities for communications, involving a host device, comprising the steps of:

• cryptographically securing a communication for a first purpose using a first signature;
• cryptographically securing a communication for a second purpose using a second signature;
• in a processor, using a cryptographic algorithm of a first type to generate said first signature;
• using a cryptographic algorithm of a second type in said processor to generate said second signature, said cryptographic algorithms of said first type and said second type, for a same input set, respectively generating different respective outputs from said processor;
• entering an input set into said processor for a current communication together with an entry designating whether said current communication is for said first purpose or for said second purpose;
• when said current communication is designated for said first purpose, operating on said input set in said processor for said current communication with said cryptographic algorithm of said first type to secure said current communication with said first signature and emitting said current communication secured with said first signature as a secured communication output from said processor;
• when said current communication is designated for said second purpose, operating on the same input set in said processor for said current communication with said cryptographic algorithm of said second type to secure said current communication with said second signature and emitting said current communication secured with said second signature as a secured communication output from said processor;
• storing a plurality of algorithms selected from the group consisting of signing algorithms and hash algorithms in a read-only memory of a postal security device;
• from a logic circuit module outside of said postal security device having access to said memory, accessing a selected one of said algorithms when said current communication is designated for said first purpose and using said selected one of said algorithms as said cryptographic algorithm of said first type in said logic circuit module to secure said communication for said first purpose;
• and
• from said logic circuit module, accessing a selected different one of said algorithms from said read-only memory of said postal security device and, when said current communication is designated for said second purpose, securing said communication for said second purpose in said logic circuit module using said selected different one of said algorithm as said cryptographic algorithm of said second type.