The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 28, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 16, 1998
Timothy Ober, Atkinson, NH (US);
Peter Reed, Beverly, MA (US);
SafeNet, Inc., Baltimore, MD (US);
Abstract
A method of expanding a secure kernel memory area to accommodate additional software code includes the step of digitally signing the additional code by a trusted authority. The code has a digital signature to authenticate the source of the code and to control what code can be added to the secure kernel. The new code is copied into an unprotected memory where the digital signature is verified. The digital signature includes a unique integrated circuit (IC) identification number, which provides the IC manufacturer with the ability to control the secure kernel memory expansion of all or each of the ICs. If the code is authenticated via the digital signature, then those memory blocks are locked-in as protected memory and thus given “secure kernel” privileges.