Encryption with Java and RPG?

Hi All:

I just found these lists and what a goldmine!

I'm posting this question to the RPG group and Java group because it
relates to both (I think).

My boss handed me an interesting problem ... hoping to get some
pointers or guidance here.

What I need to do is encrypt some text on the iSeries (in an RPG
program), store the encrypted data in a text field (data area,
probably), and (obviously) be able to decrypt the data.

Here's the rub ... I also need to be able to decrypt the data from one
or more Java programs. The java programs may be running on the
iSeries or on a PC.

Obviously I'll need a way to secure the encryption key ... I haven't
tackled that part yet.

Third party products aren't an option, as this is only a periodic
thing (at least that's what my boss tells me, I have my doubts).

A google search found some chapter's in the "API's at Work" book by
Messrs Vining, Pence, and Hawkins... I've already put in a request to
purchase that book,

The way my boss wants this to work is we run a command with the new
data to be encrypted ... the encrypted data is stored in the data area
and displayed to the user (one of our ops people), they copy the
encrypted data and paste it into a text file that the java program
can read and decrypt. The encryption key will probably be hard coded
(somehow) in the RPG and Java programs.

So the problems I am trying to solve are ...

1. Looking for a simple example of using the crypto routines in RPG.
2. Figure out the best crypto method that will work in both Java and RPG.
3. What format should I use when encrypting the data (I figure the
routines won't encrypt the same text in ASCII and EBCDIC the same).
Maybe Unicode?

OR ....

Is this really a fools errand ... and should I try to convince my boss
that we should do the encryption independently on both sides.

Thanks all! I appreciate all input.

Mike

(Mikey likes it! Hey Mikey!)