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ITL ANNOUNCES FIVE FINALISTS FOR ADVANCED ENCRYPTION STANDARD

On August 9, 1999, NIST's Information Technology Laboratory announced the selection of five finalist candidate algorithms for an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). ITL has been working with industry and the cryptographic community since 1997 to develop a Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) that specifies an encryption algorithm(s) capable of protecting sensitive (unclassified) government information well into the next century. The algorithm(s) is expected to be used by the U.S. Government and, on a voluntary basis, by the private sector. The finalists are: Please note that the selection of an algorithm as a finalist does not constitute endorsement by NIST of the algorithm or its security. Similarly, the non-selection of an algorithm is not necessarily to be taken as a statement about the algorithm's quality, security, efficiency, or other characteristics.

With the announcement of the finalists, NIST formally opens the "Round 2" public evaluation process and solicits comments on the remaining algorithms through May 15, 2000. NIST asks the submitters of comments to clearly indicate the algorithm(s) to which their comments apply. As guidance to comment submitters, the original Evaluation Criteria published on September 12, 1997, is available on the AES home page (see below). NIST will accept both general comments and formal analyses / papers that will be considered for presentation at the Third AES Candidate Conference (AES3), to be held April 13-14, 2000, in New York. Since submitted comments will be made available to the public, the comments must not contain proprietary information.

NIST seeks comments and analysis on any aspect of the candidate algorithms, including but not limited to the following topics:

Cryptanalysis - Since security will be the most important characteristic of the selected algorithm(s), NIST strongly encourages and welcomes cryptanalysis of the finalists.

Intellectual Property of the AES Finalists - NIST seeks detailed comments regarding any intellectual property, particularly any patent not already identified by the finalists' submitters, that may be infringed by the practice of any of the finalist algorithms. This also includes comments from all parties, including submitters, regarding specific claims that the practice of a finalist algorithm infringes on their patent(s). Claims regarding infringement of copyrighted software are also solicited. NIST views this input as a critical factor in the eventual widespread adoption and implementation of the algorithm(s) specified in the FIPS.

Cross-cutting Analyses of All of the AES Finalists - Public analysis comparing the entire field of finalists in a consistent manner for particular characteristics will be very useful. Additionally, surveys, analyses, and comments are invited regarding prospective future platforms and applications that will implement the AES FIPS algorithm(s).

During Round 2, NIST may take into consideration the issue of having "variable rounds" in the AES finalists. Therefore, NIST invites comments on how NIST should address the "variable rounds" issue during and after Round 2.

Overall Recommendations Regarding the Selection of the Algorithm(s) for the Proposed FIPS - When all factors are considered, which candidate algorithm(s) should be selected for inclusion in the FIPS? Also, conversely, NIST seeks the identification and justification of which algorithms should not be selected by NIST.

Related Recommendations Regarding Implementation of the AES FIPS - In addition to selecting the algorithm(s) to be included in the proposed FIPS, issues regarding the implementation requirements of the standard will also need to be addressed. Therefore, NIST is seeking comments (with rationale) on what requirements should be included in the FIPS.

Upon final publication as a FIPS, NIST intends to provide validation testing for implementations of the AES algorithm(s), as it does with other FIPS-approved cryptographic algorithms. Comments pertaining to such validation testing are also welcome.

For complete information on submitting comments, see http://www.nist.gov/aes. Public comments for Round 2 are due May 15, 2000. Paper proposals for AES3 (also considered as public comments) are due to NIST by January 15, 2000. Comments and paper proposals should be sent electronically to AESround2@nist.gov. Alternatively, they may be sent to: Information Technology Laboratory, Attn: AES Finalist Comments (Bldg. 820, Room 423), National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, STOP 8930, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8930, U.S.A.

FEDERAL INFORMATION PROCESSING STANDARDS (FIPS) ACTIVITIES

Changes to the FIPS databases that specify representations and codes for federal data interchange are available in electronic format through ITL's web pages. Change notices providing updates to the data representations and codes are no longer printed and mailed, but are posted electronically.

The FIPS Web pages are located at (please note new Web address): http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/

The change notices are posted at: http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/message.htm

The following FIPS for data representations and code have change notices posted:

FIPS 4-2, Representation of Calendar Date for Information Interchange, was updated to adopt American National Standard ANSI X3.30-1997: Representation of Date for Information Interchange (revision of ANSI X3.30-1985 (R1991)). This change updates the standard for representing calendar date and implements the Federal Government's commitment to use four-digit year elements (e.g., 1999, 2000, etc.) in its information technology system. The change notice is available at: http://www.nist.gov/y2k/fips4-2.htm

FIPS 6-4, Counties and Equivalent Entities of the U.S., Its Possessions, and Associated Areas, has been updated with information provided by the Bureau of the Census, the maintainer of this database. Change notices 4 and 5 are available at: http://www.nist.gov/itl/fipspubs/fip6-4.htm#CHANGE_SEC

FIPS 8-6, Metropolitan Areas (Including MSAs, CMSAs, PMSAs, and NECMAs), has been updated with information provided by the Bureau of the Census. Change notices are available at: http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/8-6chang.htm

FIPS 10-4, Countries, Dependencies, Areas of Special Sovereignty, and Their Principal Administrative Divisions, is maintained by the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA). Change notices for FIPS 10-4 are issued by NIMA, and are available on NIMA's GEOnet Names Server (GNS) at: http://164.214.2.59/gns/html/FIPS/FIPS_Files.html

FIPS 95-2, Codes for the Identification of Federal and Federally Assisted Organizations, is a new version of the FIPS and supersedes the previous version in its entirety. Included in the new version are technical changes, minor editorial changes, and updated references to documents and organizations. FIPS 95-2 is available at: http://www.nist.gov/itl/fipspubs/fip95-2.doc


UPDATE ON NEW PUBLICATIONS

ITL publishes the results of studies, investigations, and research. The reports listed below may be ordered from the following sources, Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), and the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), as indicated for each.

Parallel Algorithms for Entropy-Coding Techniques
By Abdou Youssef
NISTIR 6113
December 1998, PB99-118283, Order from NTIS, $23.00 paper, $12.00 microfiche

This paper describes parallel algorithms for several widely used entropy coding techniques, namely, arithmetic coding, run-length encoding (RLE), and Huffman coding.

Parallel Algorithms for Multi-Indexed Recurrence Relations with Applications to DPCM Image Compression
By Abdou Youssef
NISTIR 6115, December 1998, PB99-118267, Order from NTIS, $25.50 paper, $12.00 microfiche

This paper details the design and analysis of parallel algorithms for solving multi-indexed recurrence relations of arbitrary order and the identification of architectures best suited for the algorithms.

Analysis and Comparison of Various Image Downsampling and Upsampling Methods
By Abdou Youssef
NISTIR 6155
December 1998, PB99-118275, Order from NTIS, $23.00 paper, $12.00 microfiche

This paper examines new down/upsampling methods using both frequency response analysis and experimental evaluation.

Information Technology Laboratory 1998 Technical Accomplishments

By Elizabeth B. Lennon and Kathie Koenig Simon
NISTIR 6254
October 1998, PB99-111536, Order from NTIS, $25.50 paper, $12.00 microfiche

This report documents the fiscal year 1998 activities and achievements of the Information Technology Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Performance Enhancement of a Joint Transform Correlator Using the Directionality of a Spatial Light Modulator
By Mei-Li Hsieh, Eung-Gi Paek, Charles L. Wilson, and Ken Y. Hsu
NISTIR 6272
December 1998, PB99-117962, Order from NTIS, $23.00 paper, $12.00 microfiche

This paper describes research which utilizes the directionality of an electrically addressable spatial light modulator (SLM) to improve the performance of a joint transform correlator in terms of input space bandwidth product and efficiency.

Directionality of an Electrically Addressable Spatial Light Modulator and its Application to a Joint Transform Correlator
By Mei-Li Hsieh, Eung-Gi Paek, Charles L. Wilson, and Ken Y. Hsu
NISTIR 6273
December 1998, PB99-114464, Order from NTIS, $23.00 paper, $12.00 microfiche

This report discusses the use of different transfer functions along the horizontal and vertical directions to increase the performance of a joint transform correlator and also prove it by optical experiment.

Analytic Solution for a Non-Axisymmetric Isothermal Dendrite
By G.B. McFadden, S.R. Coriell, and R.F. Sekerka
NISTIR 6308
March 1999, PB99-131922, Order from NTIS, $29.50 paper, $12.00 microfiche

This report describes approximate solutions for paraboloids having perturbations with four-fold axial asymmetry, in modeling dendritic growth in cubic materials.

The NIST LEIDIR Prototype - Inserting Hypertext Links into the POMS Using Information Retrieval, Installation Guide, User Guide and Software Documentation
By John M. Tebbutt
NISTIR 6321
May 1999, PB99-144925, Order from NTIS, $23.00 paper, $12.00 microfiche

This document provides comprehensive information about the LEIDIR prototype automatic hypertext generation system, developed by NIST in collaboration with the Social Security Administration (SSA). The system creates a hypertext version of the SSA's Program Operations Manual System (POMS) from the familiar CDROM distribution.

Gray Calibration of Digital Cameras to Meet NIST Mugshot Best Practice
By Mike Rubinfeld and Charles Wilson
NISTIR 6322
June 1999, PB99-157273, Order from NTIS, $25.50 paper, $12.00 microfiche

This report presents results of an experiment to show how digital camera images can be calibrated to meet the NIST Best Practice Recommendation for the Capture of Mugshots document.

Lexicographical Manipulations for Correctly Computing Regular Tetrahedralizations with Incremental Topological Flipping
By Javier Bernal
NISTIR 6335
June 1999, PB99-144313, Order from NTIS, $23.00 paper, $12.00 microfiche

This paper describes the lexicographical manipulations employed in a recently completed implementation of their method for correctly computing three-dimensional regular triangulations.

Simple Test Procedure for Image Based Biometric Verification Systems
By Charles L. Wilson and R. Michael McCabe
NISTIR 6336
May 1999, PB99-144289, Order from NTIS, $23.00 paper, $12.00 microfiche

This report discusses a simple test method for image-based biometric verification systems. A fingerprint based computer login system is used as an example of the process used in this test method.

Triangulation-Based L1-fitting of Terrain Surfaces
By Javier Bernal and Christoph Witzgall
NISTIR 6346
June 1999, PB99-152779, Order from NTIS, $25.50 paper, $12.00 microfiche

This report describes triangulated irregular networks (TINs), which play an increasingly prominent role in modeling terrain surfaces for purposes such as animation, distributed simulation, and geodetic volumetrics.

UPCOMING TECHNICAL CONFERENCES

The Biometrics Consortium Fall '99 Conference
This conference examines rapid advances in biometrics technologies and applications and addresses issues related to the convergence of these technologies such as interoperability and standardization.
Sponsors: NIST and the National Security Agency
Date: September 16, 1999
Place: Hyatt Regency Hotel, Crystal City, Virginia
Technical Contact: Fernando Podio, (301) 975-2947, fernando.podio@nist.gov
Workshop Homepage: http://www.nist.gov/bc99

Electronic Book '99 Workshop
The workshop features topics including handheld, paperless electronic books, Web-based electronic books, new technologies, progress on the Open Electronic Book Standards Committee, electronic rights management issues, and the latest new advances.
Sponsors: NIST and the National Information Standards Organization (NISO)
Dates: September 21-22, 1999
Place: NIST, Gaithersburg, Maryland
Technical Contact: Victor McCrary, (301) 975-4321, victor.mccrary@nist.gov
Workshop Homepage: http://www.nist.gov/ebook99

22nd National Information Systems Security Conference
This year's conference theme is "Security Solutions for the Third Millenium." The goal of the conference is to educate the IT community on major information security issues and solutions, and promote demand and investment in information security products, solutions, and research.
Sponsors: NIST and the National Computer Security Center (NCSC)
Dates: October 18-21, 1999
Place: Hyatt Regency, Crystal City, Virginia
Technical Contact: Patricia Toth, (301) 975-5140, patricia.toth@nist.gov
Conference Homepage: http://csrc.nist.gov/nissc/welcome.htm

DVD '99: Standards, Applications, and Technology
The maturation of DVD will be felt throughout industry, as the technology becomes more persuasive, including DVD manufacturers, publishers, educational institutions, music businesses, and entertainment. This conference will attract these commercial sectors to collaborate and exchange vital information, gaining insights and avoiding potential conflicts on standards and other issues.
Sponsors: NIST and Optical Storage Technology Association (OSTA)
Dates: November 30-December 1, 1999
Place: NIST, Gaithersburg, Maryland
Technical Contact: Xiao Tang, (301) 975-2903, xiao.tang@nist.gov
Conference Homepage: http://www.nist.gov/dvd99

National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP) Training Courses - Check out the NIAP Web site at http://niap.nist.gov, click on Events, click on Training Classes.


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