Data processing method and related device

Claim 1

A method of processing data used in an electronic entity including a non-volatile storage unit, comprising the steps of: interfacing, via an interface of the electronic entity, with a terminal for two-way communications with a processor of the electronic entity; generating, at the terminal a pseudo-random number; transmitting, via the terminal, the pseudo-random number (b) to a keyholder in communication with the terminal; receiving, at the terminal, a first result (b′) of an operation of a first type between the pseudo-random number (b) and a secret key (a) from the keyholder; transmitting, via the interface, the pseudo-random number (b) to the processor of the electronic entity, whereupon the processor stores the pseudo-random number (b) in a memory of the electronic entity; retrieving, at the processor of the electronic entity, a key data item (c), derived from a conversion of the secret key (a) and an operand (r), from the non-volatile storage unit of the electronic entity; execution, at the processor of the electronic entity, of an operation of a second type using the key data item (c) and said pseudo-random number (b) received from the terminal to obtain a second result (b″); transmitting, via the interface of the electronic entity ( 10 ), the second result (b″); and comparing, via a processor of the terminal, the first result (b′) and the second result (b″), a match between the first and second results (b′, b″) indicating a match between the secret key (a) of the keyholder and the key data item (c) stored in the electronic entity.

Claim 2

A method of processing data used in an electronic entity including a non-volatile storage unit, comprising the steps of: interfacing, via an interface of the electronic entity, with a terminal for two-way communications with a processor of the electronic entity; generating, at the terminal a pseudo-random number; transmitting, via the terminal, the pseudo-random number (b) to a keyholder in communication with the terminal; receiving, at the terminal, a first result (b′) of an operation of a first type between the pseudo-random number (b) and a secret key (a) from the keyholder; transmitting, via the interface, the pseudo-random number (b) to the processor of the electronic entity, whereupon the processor stores the pseudo-random number (b) in a memory of the electronic entity; retrieving, at the processor of the electronic entity, a key data item (c), derived from a conversion of the secret key (a) and an operand (r), from the non-volatile storage unit of the electronic entity; execution, at the processor of the electronic entity, of an operation of a second type using the key data item (c) and said pseudo-random number (b) received from the terminal to obtain a second result (b″); transmitting, via the interface of the electronic entity ( 10 ), the second result (b″); and comparing, via a processor of the terminal, the first result (b′) and the second result (b″), a match between the first and second results (b′, b″) indicating a match between the secret key (a) of the keyholder and the key data item (c) stored in the electronic entity.

Claim 9

A device for processing of data in an electronic entity including a non-volatile storage unit, comprising: means for communicating with a keyholder, via which a pseudo-random number (b) is transmitted to the keyholder, and a first result (b′) of an operation of a first type between the pseudo-random number (b) and a secret key (a) from the keyholder is received from the keyholder; means for interfacing with an interface of the electronic entity for two-way communications with a processor of the electronic entity, through which a pseudo-random number (b) is transmitted to the electronic entity, whereupon the processor stores the pseudo-random number (b) in a memory of the electronic entity; means for causing a key data (c) item stored in the non-volatile storage unit of the electronic entity to be retrieved by the processor of the electronic entity; means for causing an operation of a second type to take place on the processor of the electronic entity using the key data item and said pseudo-random number (b); receiving means for receiving, via the interface of the electronic entity, the second result (b″); and means for comparing the first result (b′) and the second result (b″), a match between the first and second results (b′, b″) indicating a match between the secret key (a) of the keyholder and the key data item (c) stored in the electronic entity.

Claim 10

A device for processing of data in an electronic entity including a non-volatile storage unit, comprising: means for communicating with a keyholder, via which a pseudo-random number (b) is transmitted to the keyholder, and a first result (b′) of an operation of a first type between the pseudo-random number (b) and a secret key (a) from the keyholder is received from the keyholder; means for interfacing with an interface of the electronic entity for two-way communications with a processor of the electronic entity, through which a pseudo-random number (b) is transmitted to the electronic entity, whereupon the processor stores the pseudo-random number (b) in a memory of the electronic entity; means for causing a key data (c) item stored in the non-volatile storage unit of the electronic entity to be retrieved by the processor of the electronic entity; means for causing an operation of a second type to take place on the processor of the electronic entity using the key data item and said pseudo-random number (b); receiving means for receiving, via the interface of the electronic entity, the second result (b″); and means for comparing the first result (b′) and the second result (b″), a match between the first and second results (b′, b″) indicating a match between the secret key (a) of the keyholder and the key data item (c) stored in the electronic entity.