Patent ID: 8621189

Claim:
A computing device implemented method for using a cryptographic module located within the computing device, the method comprising: a processor of the cryptographic module: receiving a password together with a cryptographic state identifier, the cryptographic state identifier specifying either an encryption mode or a decryption mode for the cryptographic module; checking a data store for a cryptographic key previously recorded in association with the received password; when the data store contains a cryptographic key previously recorded in association with the received password, retrieving said cryptographic key; and entering the encryption mode or the decryption mode as specified by the received cryptographic state identifier, and while in said mode, receiving data to be processed from a component of the computing device, processing said received data in accordance with said mode using said retrieved cryptographic key, and outputting the processed data; and when the data store does not contain a cryptographic key previously recorded in association with the password, generating a random number using a random number generator; generating at least one cryptographic key using the generated random number; and, recording an association of the received password and the at least one cryptographic key in the data store.