System and method for authentication of off-chip processor firmware code
US6571335B1 · kind B1 · utility
39Cited by
19References
17Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 1, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 27, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F21/64
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An electronic system and corresponding method for authenticating firmware stored in a memory element external to a processor. In one embodiment, an electronic system comprises a processor and a memory element. The memory element is used to contain firmware and a digital signature of the firmware signed by a signatory. Coupled to the memory element, the processor authenticates the firmware during a predetermined condition, which occurs prior to execution of the firmware, through use of a pre-stored public key of the signatory and a pre-stored digital signature function.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.