Patent · US Expired

Smart card mating protocol

US7305555B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
5References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 27, 2002
Grant dateDec 4, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 2, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N21/4623
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system is described for uniquely mating components of a communication network such as a smartcard and a set-top box. When mated, the smartcard and set-top box are tied together and have a single identity. Further, the smartcard operates properly only when inserted into an authorized set-top box. Exchanges of information between both components are secured by encryption and authentication to guard against piracy of the exchanged information. The system provides the same authentication key to the set-top box and the smartcard. This key is used for authenticating communication between the set-top box and the smartcard. First, the authentication key is encrypted by a set-top box mating key. The set-top box employs this mating key to decrypt the authentication key. After it is derived, the authentication key is stored in the set-top box's memory. Further, the same authentication key is encrypted by a smartcard mating key. Thereafter, the smartcard employs the smartcard mating key to extract the authentication key. The clear authentication key is stored in the smartcard's memory as well. In this manner, the authentication key is used for securing all communication between the set-top b…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.