Patent US6523119B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6523119B2
Expired / Lapsed
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Software protection device and method
Assignee: Thales DIS CPL USA Inc
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Filing: 1996-12-04
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Granted: 2003-02-18
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Expires: 2016-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for protecting computer software from unauthorized execution or duplication using a hardware key is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a means for communicating with the computer to receive command messages from the computer in the hardware key and to provide response messages to the computer, a memory for storing data for translating command messages into response messages enabling software execution, and a processor coupled to the interface port for translating command messages into response messages using the data stored in the memory. The processor further comprises a memory manager, for logically segmenting the memory storing the data into at least one protected segment, and for controlling access to the protected segment.
Inventors
- 👤 Dominique Vincent Pavlin
- 👤 Mehdi Sotoodeh
- 👤 Reed H. Tibbetts
- 👤 Patrick N. Godding
- 👤 Alain Raymond Spiewek
- 👤 Roger Graham Nixon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/10; G06F21/12; G06F21/121; G06F21/123; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/085; G06Q20/0855; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952; Y10S707/99953; Y10S707/99956
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of securing software executable on a computer, comprising the steps of: (a) segmenting the software into a first and a second software segment; (b) transmitting the first software segment to a first hardware key communicatively coupled to a developer computer, the first hardware key comprising a first hardware key processor and a first hardware key memory, the first hardware key memory having a secure segment with a first encryption key stored therein; (c) encrypting the first software segment using the first encryption key and the first hardware key processor; and (d) receiving an encrypted first software segment from the first hardware key.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of securing software executable on a computer, comprising the steps of: (a) segmenting the software into a first and a second software segment; (b) transmitting the first software segment to a first hardware key communicatively coupled to a developer computer, the first hardware key comprising a first hardware key processor and a first hardware key memory, the first hardware key memory having a secure segment with a first encryption key stored therein; (c) encrypting the first software segment using the first encryption key and the first hardware key processor; and (d) receiving an encrypted first software segment from the first hardware key.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
128 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: (a) storing the encrypted first software segment and the second software segment in a host computer communicatively coupled to a second hardware key comprising a second hardware key processor and a second hardware key memory having the first encryption key stored therein; (b) transmitting the encrypted first software segment to the second hardware key; (c) decrypting the encrypted first software segment using the first encryption key to produce flint software segment instructions; (d) storing the first software segment instructions in a secure portion of the second hardware key memory; (e) performing the first software segment instructions by the second hardware key processor to produce a response message; and (f) transmitting the response message to the host computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the response message is encrypted before transmission to the host computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting the encrypted first software segment from the first hardware key to a second hardware key, the second hardware key comprising a second hardware key processor and a second hardware key memory having a secure segment with the first encryption key stored therein; and (b) storing the encrypted first software segment in the secure segment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
111 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: (a) storing the second software segment in a host computer communicatively coupled to a second hardware key comprising a second hardware key processor and a second hardware key memory having the first encryption key securely stored therein; (b) decrypting the encrypted first software segment using the first encryption key to produce first software segment instructions; (c) storing the first software segment instructions in a secure portion of the second hardware key memory; (d) performing the first software segment instructions by the second hardware key processor to produce a response message; and (e) transmitting the response message 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) | 2006-02-17 | 2006-08-19 | 2007-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-02-17 | 2010-08-19 | 2011-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-02-17 | 2014-08-19 | 2015-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |