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System and method for configuring and registering a cryptographic device

Assignee: Micron Technology Inc
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Filing: 1997-09-30
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Granted: 1999-10-19
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Expires: 2017-09-30
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Abstract

Abstract A system and method for configuring and registering a cryptographic device. The configuration phase involves loading a device serial number (DSER) and a symmetric key (SK) into non-volatile memory of the cryptographic device. The non-volatile memory is integrated with processing logic of the cryptographic device. DSER is provided by an external source while SK is generated within the cryptographic device. The registration phase involves providing DSER to a database that contains cryptographic information associated with each cryptographic device manufactured. The cryptographic information includes at least a public key and a private key encrypted with SK. DSER is used to locate the appropriate cryptographic information and to transmit the cryptographic information to an electronic system having the cryptographic device.

Inventors

  • 👤 Derek L. Davis

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 21:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/08; H04L9/0816; H04L9/0819; H04L9/0822; G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/60; G06F21/602; G06F21/70; G06F21/78; G06F21/79; G09; G09C; G09C1/00; H04L9/0825; H04L2209/00; H04L2209/12

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 105 words
A method for configuring a cryptographic device comprising: loading a device serial number into a non-volatile memory of the cryptographic device; producing a key within the cryptographic device the key being stored in the non-volatile memory; producing a cryptographic key pair within the cryptographic device the cryptographic key pair including a public key and a private key; encrypting the private key with the key; and exporting the device serial number, the public key and the private key encrypted with the key to a database remotely located from the cryptographic device without storage of the public key and the private key internally within the cryptographic device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 105 words
A method for configuring a cryptographic device comprising: loading a device serial number into a non-volatile memory of the cryptographic device; producing a key within the cryptographic device the key being stored in the non-volatile memory; producing a cryptographic key pair within the cryptographic device the cryptographic key pair including a public key and a private key; encrypting the private key with the key; and exporting the device serial number, the public key and the private key encrypted with the key to a database remotely located from the cryptographic device without storage of the public key and the private key internally within the cryptographic device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: discontinuing any further loading of information within the non-volatile memory of the cryptographic device after the device serial number and the key have been loaded.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 50 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: providing the public key to a certification authority; encrypting the public key with a private key of the certification authority to produce a digital certificate; and sending the digital certificate to the database to accompany the public key and the encrypted private key.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the device serial number is unique and distinct from device serial numbers for other cryptographic devices.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the key is a symmetric key.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the symmetric key is unique and distinct from other symmetric keys associated with the other cryptographic devices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory is integrated within processing logic of the cryptographic device.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 103 words
A method for registering a cryptographic device comprising: establishing a communication channel between a database and an electronic system implemented with the cryptographic device, the cryptographic device including non-volatile memory storing a key and a device serial number; transmitting a message to the database, the message including the device serial number contained in the cryptographic device; and receiving a public key and a private key encrypted with the key associated with the cryptographic device, the public key and the private key having been originally generated internally within the cryptographic device but now stored within the database in lieu of the cryptographic device itself.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 103 words
A method for registering a cryptographic device comprising: establishing a communication channel between a database and an electronic system implemented with the cryptographic device, the cryptographic device including non-volatile memory storing a key and a device serial number; transmitting a message to the database, the message including the device serial number contained in the cryptographic device; and receiving a public key and a private key encrypted with the key associated with the cryptographic device, the public key and the private key having been originally generated internally within the cryptographic device but now stored within the database in lieu of the cryptographic device itself.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising: loading the public key and the private key encrypted with the key into a non-volatile memory element of the electronic system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the communication channel is not secure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the key is a symmetric key.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 53 words
The method of claim 8, wherein prior to receiving the public key, the method further comprising: receiving the message including the device serial number by the database; using the device serial number as a lookup index; and transmitting the public key and the private key encrypted with the key to the electronic system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising: receiving a digital certificate being the public key encrypted with a private key of a certification authority.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 100 words
A system comprising: a chipset; a non-volatile memory element coupled to the chipset; a cryptographic device coupled to the chipset, the cryptographic device including processing logic having a small amount of device non-volatile memory, the non-volatile memory containing a device serial number and a key; and a transceiver to download a public key of the system and a corresponding private key encrypted with the key into the non-volatile memory during registration, the public and private keys having been originally generated internally within the cryptographic device during a prior configuration stage for exclusive storage outside the cryptoraphic device prior to registration.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 100 words
A system comprising: a chipset; a non-volatile memory element coupled to the chipset; a cryptographic device coupled to the chipset, the cryptographic device including processing logic having a small amount of device non-volatile memory, the non-volatile memory containing a device serial number and a key; and a transceiver to download a public key of the system and a corresponding private key encrypted with the key into the non-volatile memory during registration, the public and private keys having been originally generated internally within the cryptographic device during a prior configuration stage for exclusive storage outside the cryptoraphic device prior to registration.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 109 words
A cryptographic device comprising: a random number generator to generate at least one random number to produce a symmetric key, a public key and a private key associated with the cryptographic device; a non-volatile memory including the symmetric key; and a processing unit coupled to the random number generator and the non-volatile memory, the processing unit to control (i) loading of the key into the non-volatile memory, (ii) encrypting of the private key with the symmetric key, and (iii) outputting of the public key and the encrypted private key without storage of the public key and the private key within the cryptographic device during configuration of the cryptographic device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 109 words
A cryptographic device comprising: a random number generator to generate at least one random number to produce a symmetric key, a public key and a private key associated with the cryptographic device; a non-volatile memory including the symmetric key; and a processing unit coupled to the random number generator and the non-volatile memory, the processing unit to control (i) loading of the key into the non-volatile memory, (ii) encrypting of the private key with the symmetric key, and (iii) outputting of the public key and the encrypted private key without storage of the public key and the private key within the cryptographic device during configuration of the cryptographic device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 36 words
The cryptographic device of claim 15, wherein the processing unit controls subsequent retrieval of the public key and the encrypted private key after outputting the public key and the encrypted private key during a registration phase.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 27 words
The cryptographic device of claim 16, wherein the processing unit controlling access to a remote database for retrieval of the public key and the encrypted private key.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 15 words
The cryptographic device of claim 15, wherein the processing unit is a general purpose microprocessor.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5799086A Cited
US5539828A Cited
US5796840A Cited
US5664017A Cited
US5852665A Cited
US5633932A Cited
US5805706A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-10-18 2003-04-19 2003-10-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-10-18 2007-04-19 2007-10-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-10-18 2011-04-19 2011-10-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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