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Method and apparatus for verifying the identity of dynamic memory

Assignee: National Research Development Corp UK
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Filing: 1986-05-05
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Granted: 1988-06-14
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Expires: 2006-05-05
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Abstract

Abstract The refresh cycle for a bank of dynamic memory is inhibited until a predetermined proportion of the data has corrupted. The pattern of cells in which data has corrupted is characteristic of the individual device and is used to determine whether the individual machine is authorized to run protected software.

Inventors

  • 👤 Stephen R. Ross

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 09:36
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/70; G06F21/78; G06F21/79

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 59 words
A method for verifying the identity of a dynamic memory which requires refreshing periodically in order to maintain data stored therein uncorrupted, the method comprising: inhibiting refreshing of the memory until a predetermined proportion of the data stored in the memory has corrupted, reading the corrupted data and comparing the data pattern as read, with an expected data pattern.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 59 words
A method for verifying the identity of a dynamic memory which requires refreshing periodically in order to maintain data stored therein uncorrupted, the method comprising: inhibiting refreshing of the memory until a predetermined proportion of the data stored in the memory has corrupted, reading the corrupted data and comparing the data pattern as read, with an expected data pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, including writing the same data into each location of the memory before inhibiting the refreshing thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 35 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the proportion of the data which has corrupted is monitored by periodically determining the proportion of data that has corrupted in a section of memory.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined proportion is 10%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 67 words
Apparatus for verifying the identity of a dynamic memory which requires refreshing periodically in order to maintain data stored therein uncorrupted, the apparatus comprising: means arranged to inhibit refreshing of the memory until a predetermined proportion of the data stored in the memory has corrupted, means arranged to read the corrupted data and means arranged to compare the data pattern as read with an expected data pattern.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 67 words
Apparatus for verifying the identity of a dynamic memory which requires refreshing periodically in order to maintain data stored therein uncorrupted, the apparatus comprising: means arranged to inhibit refreshing of the memory until a predetermined proportion of the data stored in the memory has corrupted, means arranged to read the corrupted data and means arranged to compare the data pattern as read with an expected data pattern.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 98 words
Apparatus for verifying the identity of a dynamic memory which requires refreshing periodically in order to maintain data stored therein uncorrupted, the apparatus comprising: data processing means and storage means containing instructions for the data processing means, the apparatus being connected to the dynamic memory for controlling reading, writing and refreshing thereof, the instructions defining a configuration of the processing means to inhibit refreshing of the memory until a predetermined proportion of the data stored in the memory has corrupted, to read the corrupted data and to compare the data pattern as read, with an expected data pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 98 words
Apparatus for verifying the identity of a dynamic memory which requires refreshing periodically in order to maintain data stored therein uncorrupted, the apparatus comprising: data processing means and storage means containing instructions for the data processing means, the apparatus being connected to the dynamic memory for controlling reading, writing and refreshing thereof, the instructions defining a configuration of the processing means to inhibit refreshing of the memory until a predetermined proportion of the data stored in the memory has corrupted, to read the corrupted data and to compare the data pattern as read, with an expected data pattern.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4245308A Cited
US4337659A Cited
US4380070A Cited
US4486828A Cited
US4462076A Cited
GB2131580A Cited
GB2142765A Cited
GB2145856A Cited
US4622652A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-06-14 1991-12-14 1992-06-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-06-14 1995-12-14 1996-06-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-06-14 1999-12-14 2000-06-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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