Patent ID: 6199087
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for performing efficient arithmetic in a finite field in an elliptic curve cryptography application, the method comprising the steps:receiving a first operand of the elliptic curve cryptography application having a first representation format;permuting the first operand from the first representation format to an alternative representation format;receiving a second operand of the elliptic curve cryptography application having the first representation format;permuting the second operand from the first representation format to the alternative representation format;generating a result for use in the elliptic curve cryptography application having the alternative representation format by performing a selected arithmetic operation on the first and second operands; andpermuting the result from the alternative representation format to the first representation format wherein the alternative representation format is preselected to enable the steps of permuting to be performed by a bit wise transposition between the first representation format and the alternative representation format.