System and method for providing dynamically authorized access to functionality present on an integrated circuit chip
US7818574B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 10, 2004 |
| Grant date | Oct 19, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 9, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2209/56
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A mechanism is provided in which access to the functionality present on an integrated circuit chip is controllable via an encrypted certificate of authority which includes time information indicating allowable periods of operation or allowable duration of operation. The chip includes at least one cryptographic engine and at least one processor. The chip also contains hard coded cryptographic keys including a chip private key, a chip public key and a third party's public key. The chip is also provided with a battery backed up volatile memory which contains information which is used to verify authority for operation. The certificate of authority is also used to control not only the temporal aspects of operation but is also usable to control access to certain functionality that may be present on the chip, such as access to some or all of the cryptographic features provided in conjunction with the presence of the cryptographic engine, such as key size.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.