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:
Feb. 22, 2011
Filed:
Jun. 16, 2003
Mark Benedikt, Kirkland, WA (US);
Mark Benedikt, Kirkland, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
A system and method for securely delivering installation keys from a key generator to an individualization device at a production facility is presented. Operators, using a production key server at the manufacturing facility, send a request to a key release server for a number of installation keys according to a production run. The key release server verifies the request, and if valid, returns the requested number of installation keys to the production key server in an encrypted format. The production key server then decrypts and delivers installation keys to the individualization device in a just-in-time fashion. The production key server includes various security devices including a hardware decryption device to decrypt the installation keys, a smart card reader for authenticating authorized operators, and a limiting switch to disable the production key server if it is tampered with.