Methods and apparatus for secure and reliable transmission of messages over a silent alarm channel

A method for transmitting a plurality of messages from a sender to a receiver, comprising the steps of:

• obtaining one or more write keys at said sender;
• adding one or more messages in an encoded format to a buffer using a first level of encryption comprising an atomic authenticated encryption scheme, wherein said authenticated encryption scheme employs a secret key shared by said sender and said receiver and wherein at least one of said one or more encrypted messages is maintained in said buffer after a receiver reads said at least one message;
• encapsulating said buffer into an encapsulated buffer using a second level of encryption;
• and
• transmitting a content of said encapsulated buffer to said receiver, wherein at least one of said steps employs at least one hardware device.

An apparatus for transmitting a plurality of messages from a sender to a receiver, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one hardware device, coupled to the memory, operative to implement the following steps:
• obtain said plurality of messages at said sender;
• encrypt each of said plurality of messages using an atomic authenticated encryption scheme, wherein said authenticated encryption scheme employs a secret key shared by said sender and said receiver;
• and
• transmit said plurality of encrypted messages on a forward-secure channel to a said receiver, wherein said forward-secure channel comprises a buffer having a plurality of entries, wherein each of said entries stores one of said encrypted messages and wherein at least one of said plurality of encrypted messages are maintained in said forward-secure channel after a receiver reads said channel.