US6175925B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Tamper resistant player for scrambled contents
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1997-09-05
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Granted: 2001-01-16
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Expires: 2017-09-05
Abstract
Abstract In one apparatus, a group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is provided to implement a descrambler that descrambles scrambled content to generate descrambled content. In another apparatus, a group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is provided to implement an authenticator that provides appropriate authentication challenges to a scrambled content provider, and generates appropriate authentication responses to authentication challenges from the scrambled content provider. In yet another apparatus, a group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is provided to implement an integrity verifier that performs integrity verification on a decoder. In yet another apparatus, a group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is provided to implement a secrets holder that holds a number of secrets associated with playing scrambled contents.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph M. Nardone
- 👤 Richard P. Mangold
- 👤 Jody L. Pfotenhauer
- 👤 Keith L. Shippy
- 👤 David W. Aucsmith
- 👤 Richard L. Maliszewski
- 👤 Gary L. Graunke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:48
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L9/00; G; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/00086; G06; G06F; G06F12/00; G06F12/14; G06F12/1408; G06F21/00; G06F21/10; G06F21/12; G06F21/14; G06F21/50; G06F21/52; G06F21/57; G06F21/70; G06F21/78; G06F21/79; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2107; G06F2221/2135; G06F2221/2151
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
An apparatus comprising: a storage medium having stored therein a first group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions designed to implement a descrambler that descrambles scrambled content to generate descrambled content, wherein the obfuscated cells are mutated through an inter-cell dependent mutation process; and an execution unit coupled to the storage medium for executing the programming instructions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
60 words
An apparatus comprising: a storage medium having stored therein a first group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions designed to implement a descrambler that descrambles scrambled content to generate descrambled content, wherein the obfuscated cells are mutated through an inter-cell dependent mutation process; and an execution unit coupled to the storage medium for executing the programming instructions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions include an obfuscated cell of programming instructions designed to implement a frequently invoked descrambling subfunction of the descrambler.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is equipped to verify that an invocation of the descrambler is not originated from an intruder, and/or execution of the first group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is not being observed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the storage medium further having stored therein a second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions designed to implement an authenticator that provides appropriate authentication challenges to a scrambled content provider device, and generates appropriate authentication responses to authentication challenges from the scrambled content provider device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is equipped to verify that execution of the second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is not being observed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the storage medium further having stored therein a second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions designed to implement a secrets holder that holds a plurality of secrets associated with playing the scrambled contents.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is equipped to verify that execution of the second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is not being observed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the storage medium further having stored therein a plurality of plain text programming instructions designed to decode the descrambled content, the plurality of plain text programming instructions having a structural relationship with the descrambler that facilitates exclusive communication of the descrambled content from the descrambler.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the storage medium further having stored therein a second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions designed to implement an integrity verifier that performs integrity verification on the plurality of plain text programming instructions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the integrity verifier is designed to perform the integrity verification on the plurality of plain text programming instructions at start-up time, and/or incrementally at run time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is equipped to verify that execution of the second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is not being observed.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
78 words
An apparatus comprising: a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of plain text programming instructions designed to decode descrambled content, and a first group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions designed to implement an integrity verifier that performs integrity verification on the plurality of plain text programming instructions, wherein the obfuscated cells are mutated through an inter-cell dependent mutation process; and an execution unit coupled to the storage medium for executing the programming instructions.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
78 words
An apparatus comprising: a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of plain text programming instructions designed to decode descrambled content, and a first group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions designed to implement an integrity verifier that performs integrity verification on the plurality of plain text programming instructions, wherein the obfuscated cells are mutated through an inter-cell dependent mutation process; and an execution unit coupled to the storage medium for executing the programming instructions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the integrity verifier is designed to perform the integrity verification on the plain text programming instructions at start-up time, and/or incrementally at run time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the storage medium further having stored therein a second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions designed to implement an authenticator that provides appropriate authentication challenges to a scrambled content provider device, and generates appropriate authentication responses to authentication challenges from the scrambled content provider device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is equipped to verify that execution of the second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is not being observed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the storage medium further having stored therein a second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions designed to implement a secrets holder that holds a plurality of secrets associated with playing the scrambled contents.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is equipped to verify that execution of the second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is not being observed.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
64 words
An apparatus comprising: a storage medium having stored therein a first group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions designed to implement a secrets holder that holds a plurality of secrets associated with playing scrambled contents, wherein the obfuscated cells are mutated through an inter-cell dependent mutation process; and an execution unit coupled to the storage medium for executing the programming instructions.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
64 words
An apparatus comprising: a storage medium having stored therein a first group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions designed to implement a secrets holder that holds a plurality of secrets associated with playing scrambled contents, wherein the obfuscated cells are mutated through an inter-cell dependent mutation process; and an execution unit coupled to the storage medium for executing the programming instructions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 18 , wherein the first group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is equipped to verify that execution of the first group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is not being observed.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 , wherein the storage medium further having stored therein a second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions that implement an authenticator that provides appropriate authentication challenges to a scrambled content provider device, and generates appropriate authentication responses to authentication challenges from the scrambled content provider device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 20 , wherein the second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is equipped to verify that execution of the second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is not being observed.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus comprising: a storage medium having stored therein a first group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions designed to implement an authenticator that provides appropriate authentication challenges to a scrambled content provider device, and generates appropriate authentication responses to authentication challenges from the scrambled content provider device, wherein the obfuscated cells are mutated through an inter-cell dependent mutation process; and an execution unit coupled to the storage medium for executing the programming instructions.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus comprising: a storage medium having stored therein a first group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions designed to implement an authenticator that provides appropriate authentication challenges to a scrambled content provider device, and generates appropriate authentication responses to authentication challenges from the scrambled content provider device, wherein the obfuscated cells are mutated through an inter-cell dependent mutation process; and an execution unit coupled to the storage medium for executing the programming instructions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 22 , wherein the second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is equipped to verify that execution of the second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is not being observed.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
74 words
A method comprising: a) executing a first group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions to perform integrity verification on a plurality of plain text programming instructions designed to decode descrambled content; and b) executing a second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions to store a plurality of secrets associated with descrambling scrambled content if integrity of the plurality of plain text programming instructions is verified in (a).
Claim 29
Independent Claim
74 words
A method comprising: a) executing a first group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions to perform integrity verification on a plurality of plain text programming instructions designed to decode descrambled content; and b) executing a second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions to store a plurality of secrets associated with descrambling scrambled content if integrity of the plurality of plain text programming instructions is verified in (a).
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein each of (a) and (b) includes determining if execution of the first/second group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is being observed.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the method further comprises (c) executing a third group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions to provide appropriate authentication challenges to a scrambled content provider device, and to provide appropriate responses to authentication challenges of the scrambled content provider device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein each of (a), (b) and (c) includes determining if execution of the first/second/third group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is being observed.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the method further comprises (d) executing a fourth group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions to descramble scrambled content to generate the descrambled content if authentication with the scrambled content provider device is successful in (c).
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein each of (a), (b), (c) and (d) includes determining if execution of the first/second/third/fourth group of plain text and obfuscated cells of programming instructions is being observed.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein (d) includes determining if an invocation of the fourth group of programming instructions is originated from an intruder.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein the method further includes (e) executing the plurality of plain text programming instructions to decode the descrambled content.
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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) | 2004-01-16 | 2004-07-17 | 2005-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-01-16 | 2008-07-17 | 2009-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-01-16 | 2012-07-17 | 2013-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |