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:
Apr. 15, 2008
Filed:
Mar. 19, 2003
Applicants:
Robert Alan Pitsch, Carmel, IN (US);
John Joseph Curtis, Iii, Noblesville, IN (US);
Inventors:
Robert Alan Pitsch, Carmel, IN (US);
John Joseph Curtis, III, Noblesville, IN (US);
Assignee:
Thomson Licensing, Boulogne Billancourt, FR;
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 9/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
Hacking of a class of Set-Top Boxes known as Integrated Receiver-Decoders (IRDs) used to receive satellite broadcasts for display on television sets is prevented by use of connections to the reprogramming enable pin of a flash memory. If a user attempts to reprogram the boot sector of the flash memory in order to obtain free service via privacy, the set-top box is destroyed. The invention relates to the design and manufacture of IRDs that are resistant to hacking via unauthorized reprogramming.