Communications system capable of communicating encrypted information

Abstract

A communications system for transmitting and receiving information encrypted by a cipher key to and from a remote communication apparatus includes a cipher key storage device for storing a cipher key table in which a plurality of cipher keys and their index numbers are registered and updated. A remote terminal data storage device stores a remote terminal data table including index numbers of the individual cipher keys registered in relation to predefined operation numbers. Input devices are provided for inputting the cipher keys, the index numbers, and the operation numbers. A registration mode setup device is provided for selectively activating a remote terminal data registration mode in which data is registered in the remote terminal data table or a cipher key registration mode in which data is registered in the cipher key table. A registration control device is provided for registering an index number in relation to an operation number in the remote terminal data registration mode and for registering a cipher number in relation to an index number in the cypher key registration mode. Control is provided for automatically switching to plaintext transmission or halting transmission and accepting encryption data when required encryption data is absent.