Method of maintaining software integrity
US8639916B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jan 28, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 4, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F21/79
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method of maintaining the integrity of software stored in memory, the method comprising: storing an indicator associated with the memory; calculating a reference value from the stored indicator; storing the reference value; modifying the indicator when the software in the memory is modified; storing the modified indicator; recalculating the reference value from the modified indicator; storing the recalculated reference value; and verifying the integrity of the software by: retrieving the modified indicator; calculating an expected value from the modified indicator; and comparing the expected value with the recalculated reference value. Preferably the integrity of the software is verified without calculating an expected value from the software. The reference and expected values are typically calculated in accordance with a secret key.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.