US5343524A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intelligent security device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-06-21
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Granted: 1994-08-30
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Expires: 2011-06-21
Abstract
Abstract An intelligent security device (10) is disclosed for protecting computer software from unauthorized use. The security device (10) is a hardware device having within a microprocessor (36) for interacting with a host computer (32) such that protected software may not be operated unless the security device (10) is in place. Physical duplication of the security device (10) will not result in a workable copy, due to the nature of the microprocessor (36), which is such that information is encoded therein and further such that encryption codes are also stored therein and cannot be discovered after the microprocessor (36) is locked by any known means. A system clock (21) within the microprocessor (36) is adaptable to the purpose of permitting use of the protected software only within limited time parameters.
Inventors
- 👤 Xiao-Chun Mu
- 👤 Kai J. Chin
- 👤 Feiying Chen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/10; G06F21/12; G06F21/121; G06F21/123; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2137
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A software protection device for connection to a communications port of a host computer, comprising: a memory for storing data therein in an encoded form; processing means for encoding data to be stored in said memory, and further for decoding data to be retrieved from said memory, and further for performing calculations on the data; data level conversion means for connecting said processing means to the host computer such that data output from the host computer is converted into a form usable by said processing means, and further such that data output from said processing means is converted into a form usable by said host computer; and power isolation means for interconnecting the software protection device to the host computer such that the software protection device draws operating power from the host computer, wherein; said processing means uses a data encryption scheme stored in said memory to encode and to decode the data; a code is required to access said data encryption scheme said memory and said processing means being components of the software protection device provided for supplementing the computer which are housed together in a unitary integrated circuit device package such that data contained within said memory can only be retrieved in usable form by the operation of decoding the data through said processing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
A software protection device for connection to a communications port of a host computer, comprising: a memory for storing data therein in an encoded form; processing means for encoding data to be stored in said memory, and further for decoding data to be retrieved from said memory, and further for performing calculations on the data; data level conversion means for connecting said processing means to the host computer such that data output from the host computer is converted into a form usable by said processing means, and further such that data output from said processing means is converted into a form usable by said host computer; and power isolation means for interconnecting the software protection device to the host computer such that the software protection device draws operating power from the host computer, wherein; said processing means uses a data encryption scheme stored in said memory to encode and to decode the data; a code is required to access said data encryption scheme said memory and said processing means being components of the software protection device provided for supplementing the computer which are housed together in a unitary integrated circuit device package such that data contained within said memory can only be retrieved in usable form by the operation of decoding the data through said processing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
The software protection device of claim 1, and further including: data line interrupt means for selectively temporarily interrupting a plurality of computer serial interface data lines, such that the flow of data through the communications portion of the host computer can be temporarily interrupted to enable communications between said processing means and the host computer, and further for selectively temporarily reinstating the plurality of computer serial interface data lines such that the host computer can send and receive data through the communications port.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The software protection device of claim 1, wherein: said memory includes instructions for causing said processing means to provide a protection device identifying code to the host computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The software protection device of claim 1, wherein said memory includes instructions for: causing said processing means to read a software identifying code from the host computer; compare, within said processing means, the software identifying code to an expected software code residing within the microprocessor; and permit the host computer to proceed in operation when the software identifying code matches the expected software code.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The software protection device of claim 1, wherein said memory includes instructions for: reading from a clock with said processing means a current time; comparing the current time to a time parameter limitation residing within said processing means; and permitting the host computer to proceed in operation when the current time is within the time parameter limitation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
The software protection device of claim 1, wherein said memory includes instructions for: causing said processing means to perform a calculation; returning a calculated result of the calculation to the host computer; comparing, within the host computer, the calculated result to an expected result residing with the host computer; and permitting the host computer to proceed in operation when the calculated result matches the expected result.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The software protection device of claim 1, wherein said memory includes instructions for: causing said processing means to act as a coprocessor in that the host computer can assign calculations to said processing means, the results of which are returned to the host computer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-08-29 | 1998-02-28 | 1998-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-29 | 2002-02-28 | 2002-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-29 | 2006-02-28 | 2006-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |