FIGURE 03 shows a working user interface in the form
of an "options dialog" through which the user specifies six items.
The location of the directory 0310 containing random
tables 0230 must be available to the computer program 0930. A minimum of one and
preferably eight or more random tables 0230 should be present on the hard disk. They
need be present in one copy each, together in one known directory or subdirectory
location 0310.
If the user enters no name for the first reconstitution
file 0320, a meaningless name 0451 will be used for the first (and usually only)
reconstitution file 0270. Often, the user will prefer to specify a name that reminds
him/her specifically of the privacy protected archive 0261 with which the reconstitution
file 0270 is associated. The suggested suffix for the name of reconstitution files is
".REC", but this is not required.
A password 0330 is embedded in each reconstitution file
0270 in order to prevent an unauthorized person (for example, a thief who has purloined a
laptop computer) from running the procedure 0160 to reconstitute privatized data. Where
multiple pass cascading fragmentation 0362 has been used, each reconstitution file in
the set (one per cascade) carries the same password 0330 in order to automate, expedite,
and simplify the reconstitution process 0160. Blank passwords are permitted, and may
be appropriate provided the implementation of the system and method incorporates a
computer-specific identifier system and the risk of mischief from malevolent hackers
is moderate or low.
