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US5978476A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Access restriction to circuit designs
Assignee: Altera Corp
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Filing: 1997-08-11
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Granted: 1999-11-02
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Expires: 2017-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A computerized system restricts full revelation of certain information to a user, while also performing limited processing of the information for the user for evaluation. The information is encrypted and therefore may be widely distributed without fear of revelation. An authorization code from the user specifies the type(s) of processing that are permitted, wherein different types of processing produce different type(s) of output that reveal to different degrees the information. The type(s) of output include output which represent more than mere reproduction of the information. A particularly appropriate implementation of the present invention is in the area of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) for logic design.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott Redman
- 👤 Dennis Mak
- 👤 Richard Terrill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/10; G06F2211/00; G06F2211/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for restricting information to a user of a computerized system, wherein the computerized system includes stored encrypted information, the computerized system further including a user input device and a processor, the method comprising the steps of: identifying an authorization code for said user, said authorization code indicating permissions with regard to said information; accepting, via the user input device, a request from said user for an output product; using the processor to derive the output product from a portion of the encrypted information; and outputting said requested output product to thereby make it available to said user only if said authorization code indicates permission to receive said requested output product.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for restricting information to a user of a computerized system, wherein the computerized system includes stored encrypted information, the computerized system further including a user input device and a processor, the method comprising the steps of: identifying an authorization code for said user, said authorization code indicating permissions with regard to said information; accepting, via the user input device, a request from said user for an output product; using the processor to derive the output product from a portion of the encrypted information; and outputting said requested output product to thereby make it available to said user only if said authorization code indicates permission to receive said requested output product.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: a portion of said authorization code is encrypted, said encrypted portion of said authorization code being not readily decryptable by said user; and said step of accepting said authorization code comprises decrypting said encrypted portion of said authorization code using an authorization code decryptor that is unavailable to said user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 2 wherein: said step of accepting said authorization code comprises accepting said authorization code from said user, said authorization code being accessible to said user but said encrypted portion of said authorization code being not readily decryptable by said user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 2 wherein: said authorization code includes a specification of an information decryptor for decrypting said encrypted representation of said information; and said step of decrypting said portion of said encrypted representation comprises decrypting said portion of said encrypted representation using said specified information decryptor, responsive to said authorization code accepting step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 4 wherein: said specification of said information decryptor is in said encrypted portion of said authorization code; and said step of accepting said authorization code comprises extracting said specification from said authorization code after said decrypting of said encrypted portion of said authorization code in said authorization code accepting step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said computer application program is an Electronic Design Automation tool and said information comprises a logic function design.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said processing step comprises compiling said internal representation of said portion of said information into an overall logic design.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 7 wherein: the method further comprises the step of accepting design data additional to said information; and said processing step comprises compiling said additional design data along with said internal representation of said portion of said information into said overall logic design.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising, not necessarily in said computerized system, the step of providing said authorization code to said user, said authorization code indicating whether permission exists to receive at least one of a simulation file usable as an input to a circuit simulator, a programming file usable in programming a programmable logic device, and a nonencrypted design file suitable for use as input in said computer application program.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
119 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising, not necessarily in said computerized system, the steps of: providing said authorization code to said user, said user herein referred to as the first user and said authorization code herein referred to as the first authorization code; providing a second authorization code to a second user, said encrypted representation of said information being also accessible to said second user, said second authorization code indicating permissions for said second user with regard to said information, said permissions for said second user including a permission for said second user to receive at least one output product derived from said information that said first user is not permitted by said first authorization code to receive.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said authorization code indicates permissions which are specific to a set of users including said user, the method further including the step of accepting an identity of said user.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the step of accepting said identity of said user comprises accepting said identity from a hardware device that indicates said identity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: said authorization code includes a specification of an information decryptor for decrypting said encrypted representation of said information; and said step of decrypting said portion of said encrypted representation comprises decrypting said portion of said encrypted representation using said specified information decryptor, responsive to said authorization code accepting step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of accepting said encrypted representation of said information comprises accepting said encrypted representation of said information from a data file which is separate from program files of said running application program.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in said processing step said internal representation is processed to generate said requested output product only if said authorization code indicates permission for said user to receive said requested output product.
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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) | 2002-11-01 | 2003-05-03 | 2003-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-01 | 2007-05-03 | 2007-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-01 | 2011-05-03 | 2011-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |