EP0471373A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Information processing apparatus with replaceable security element
Assignee: Arris Technology Inc
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Filing: 1991-08-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-08-16
Abstract
Abstract A field upgradeable security system deciphers signals received from a communication network. An information processor (10) includes a receptacle for receiving a replaceable security element (12). The replaceable security element generates a working key (WK) necessary to the operation of the information processor. The working key is communicated to the information processor encrypted under a secret key (A(M)). The information processor decrypts the encrypted working key for use in deciphering a received communication signal. Additional layers of encryption (A(C), U(M), U(C)) can be added to the communications between the information processor and security element to increase the level of security.
Inventors
- 👤 James Neil Esserman
- 👤 Paul Moroney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/08; H04L9/0861; H04L9/0877; H04L9/0891; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/436; H04N21/4367; H04N21/44; H04N21/4405; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/167; H04N7/1675
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A field upgradeable security system for processing signals comprising: an information processor (10) having: a receptacle (26) for receiving a replaceable security element (12); means (11) for receiving data in an encrypted form; means (14,20,24) for at least partially decrypting the received data; and means (22,26) for communicating the at least partially decrypted, received data to said security element for use in generating a working key; said replaceable security element (12) including: means (28) for generating said working key; means (34) for encrypting said working key with a secret key; and means (36,26) for communicating the encrypted working key to said information processor for decryption and use in processing a signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said information processor comprises: means (14,20,24) for further encrypting said data before communicating it to said security element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein: said secret key comprises a first authentication key (A(M)) assigned to said information processor; said means for further encrypting encrypts said data under said first authentication key before communicating it to said security element; and said security element includes means for decrypting said data with said first authentication key.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said security element includes a second authentication key (A(C)) assigned thereto; and said means for further encrypting encrypts said data under said second authentication key and said first authentication key before communicating it to said security element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein: said security element includes an authentication key (A(C)) assigned thereto; and said means for further encrypting encrypts said data under said authentication key before communicating it to said security element.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
90 words
A system in accordance with any of the preceding claims wherein: said data is received by the information processor encrypted under a first unit key (U(M)) assigned to said information processor and a second unit key (U(C)) assigned to said security element; said information processor partially decrypts said data with said first unit key; the partially decrypted data is communicated to said security element still encrypted under said second unit key; and said security element decrypts said data with said second unit key for use in generating said working key.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein: said secret key comprises a first authentication key (A(M)) assigned to said information processor; said information processor comprises means for further encrypting said data under said first authentication key before communicating it to said security element; and said security element includes means for decrypting said data with said first authentication key.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein: said security element includes a second authentication key (A(C)) assigned thereto; and said means for further encrypting encrypts said data under said second authentication key before communicating it to said security element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein: said security element includes an authentication key (A(C)) assigned thereto; and said information processor comprises means for encrypting said data under said authentication key before communicating it to said security element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said security element further comprises: an authentication key (A(C)) assigned thereto; and means for encrypting said working key with said authentication key in addition to said secret key for communication to said information processor; wherein said information processor includes means for decrypting said working key with both said authentication key and said secret key.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
101 words
A field upgradeable security system for processing signals comprising: an information processor (10) having a secret first authentication key (A(M)) assigned thereto and a receptacle (26) for receiving a replaceable security element (12); said replaceable security element including: a second authentication key (A(C)) assigned thereto, means (28) for generating a working key, means (34) for encrypting said working key with said first authentication key and said second authentication key, and means (36,26) for communicating the encrypted working key to said information processor; wherein said information processor includes: means (14,20,24) for decrypting the encrypted working key for use in processing a signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said security element includes: a unit key (U(C)) assigned thereto; means (26,36) for receiving data from said information processor encrypted under said unit key; and means (34) for decrypting said data with said unit key for use in generating said working key.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system in accordance with claim 12 wherein: said information processor comprises means (14,20,24) for encrypting said data under said first authentication key before communicating it to said security element; and said security element includes means (34) for decrypting said data with both said unit key and said first authentication key.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system in accordance with claim 13 wherein: said information processor comprises means (14,20,24) for encrypting said data under said second authentication key before communicating it to said security element; and said security element includes means (34) for decrypting said data with said unit key, said first authentication key, and said second authentication key.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system in accordance with claim 12 wherein: said information processor comprises means (14,20,24) for encrypting said data under said second authentication key before communicating it to said security element; and said security element includes means (34) for decrypting said data with said unit key and said second authentication key.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein: said information processor comprises means (14,20,24) for encrypting said data under said first authentication key before communicating it to said security element; and said security element includes means (34) for decrypting said data with said first authentication key for use in generating said working key.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein: said information processor comprises means (14,20,24) for encrypting said data under said second authentication key before communicating it to said security element; and said security element includes means (34) for decrypting said data with said first authentication key and said second authentication key.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein: said information processor comprises means (14,20,24) for encrypting said data under said second authentication key before communicating it to said security element; and said security element includes means (34) for decrypting said data with said second authentication key.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
77 words
A replaceable security element, for use in combination with an information processor having a secret cryptographic key, comprising: means (28) for generating a working key for use by said information processor in processing a signal; means (26,36) for receiving said secret key; means (34) for encrypting said working key with said secret key and an authentication key (A(C)) associated with said replaceable security element; and means (36,26) for communicating the encrypted working key to said information processor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
A security element in accordance with claim 19 further comprising: means (26,36) for receiving data encrypted under a unit key (U(C)) assigned to said security element, and means (34) for decrypting the encrypted data with said unit key for use in generating said working key.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
A security element in accordance with claim 20 wherein said data is received encrypted under said unit key and said secret key, and said decrypting means decrypt the encrypted data with both said unit key and said secret key for use in generating said working key.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
A security element in accordance with claim 21 wherein said data is received encrypted under said unit key, said secret key, and said authentication key, and said decrypting means decrypt the encrypted data with said unit key, said secret key and said authentication key for use in generating said working key.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
A security element in accordance with claim 20 wherein said data is received encrypted under said unit key and said authentication key, and said decrypting means decrypt the encrypted data with said unit key and said authentication key for use in generating said working key.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
A security element in accordance with claim 19 further comprising: means (26,36) for receiving data encrypted under said secret key, and means (34) for decrypting the encrypted data with said secret key for use in generating said working key.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
A security element in accordance with claim 24 wherein said data is received encrypted under said secret key and said authentication key, and said decrypting means decrypt the encrypted data with said secret key and said authentication key for use in generating said working key.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
A security element in accordance with claim 19 further comprising: means for receiving data encrypted under said authentication key, and means for decrypting the encrypted data with said authentication key for use in generating said working key.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
63 words
An information processor, for use in combination with a replaceable security element, comprising: an interface (22,26) for receiving a replaceable security element; means (11) for receiving data in an encrypted form; means (14,20,24) for partially decrypting the received data; and means (14,22,26) for communicating the partially decrypted, received data via said interface to a security element for use in generating a working key.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
An information processor in accordance with claim 27 comprising: means (14,20,24) for further encrypting said partially decrypted data before communicating it to said security element.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
An information processor in accordance with claim 28 further comprising: a secret key (A(M)) assigned to said information processor; wherein said partially decrypted data is further encrypted under said secret key before communicating it to said security element.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
An information processor in accordance with claim 28 or 29 wherein: said partially decrypted data is further encrypted under an authentication key (A(C)) assigned to said security element before communicating it to said security element.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
An information processor in accordance with claim 28 or 29 wherein: said partially decrypted data is further encrypted under an authentication key (A(M)) assigned to said security element before communicating it to said security element.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
70 words
An information processor in accordance with any of claims 27 to 31 wherein: said data is received encrypted under a first unit key (U(M)) assigned to said information processor and a second unit key (U(C)) assigned to said security element; said information processor partially decrypts said data with said first unit key; and the partially decrypted data is communicated to said security element still encrypted under said second unit key.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
40 words
An information processor in accordance with claim 32 further comprising: a secret key (A(M)) assigned to said information processor; and means (14,20,24) for further encrypting said partially decrypted data under said secret key before communicating it to said security element.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
67 words
An information processor, for use in combination with a replaceable security element, comprising: means (22,26) for receiving a working key from said replaceable security element (12), said working key encrypted with a first authentication key (A(M)) assigned to said information processor and a second authentication key (A(C)) assigned to said security element, and means (14,20,24) for decrypting the encrypted working key for use in processing a signal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
An information processor in accordance with claim 34 wherein: said information processor is designed according to any of the features of claims 27 to 33.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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