System and method for representing a secure time in a device based upon an insecure clock

• US 20060150254A1
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Siukonen, Juha
• Granted Patent: US 8,316,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/725 operating on a secure reference time value

Abstract

A system and method for providing modified rights information to an application on an electronic device. A centralized component monitors both a system clock and a secure clock. The centralized component calculates the difference between the time of the system clock and the time of the secure clock and thereafter modifies the access rights information for the application by the difference between the times. The modified access rights information is then presented to the application for use.

Claims

1. A method of providing modified rights information to an application on an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

monitoring a system clock on the electronic device;

monitoring a secure clock;

calculating the difference between a time of the system clock and a time of the secure clock;

modifying access rights information for the application by the difference between the time of the system clock and the time of the secure clock; and

providing the modified access rights information to the application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a time to a user based upon the difference between the time of the system clock and the time of the secure clock.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein information regarding the secure clock is hidden from other applications on the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein information regarding the secure clock is hidden from a user of the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing information to other applications based upon the time of the secure clock.

6. A computer program product for providing modified rights information to an application on an electronic device, comprising:

computer code for monitoring a system clock;

computer code for monitoring a secure clock;

computer code for calculating the difference between a time of the system clock and a time of the secure clock;

computer code for modifying access rights information for the application by the difference between the time of the system clock and the time of the secure clock; and

computer code for providing the modified access rights information to the application.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, further comprising computer code for providing a time to a user based upon the difference between the time of the system clock and the time of the secure clock.

8. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein information regarding the secure clock is hidden from other applications on the electronic device.

9. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein information regarding the secure clock is hidden from a user of the electronic device.

10. The computer program product of claim 6, further comprising computer code for providing information to other applications based upon the time of the secure clock.

11. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor for processing information;

a data communication link operatively connected to the processor; and

a memory unit including a computer program product for providing modified rights information to an application, comprising;

computer code for monitoring a system clock;

computer code for monitoring a secure clock;

computer code for calculating the difference between a time of the system clock and a time of the secure clock;

computer code for modifying access rights information for the application by the difference between the time of the system clock and the time of the secure clock; and

computer code for providing the modified access rights information to the application.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, further comprising computer code for providing a time to a user based upon the difference between the time of the system clock and the time of the secure clock.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein information regarding the secure clock is hidden from other applications on the electronic device.

14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein information regarding the secure clock is hidden from a user of the electronic device.

15. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the memory unit further comprises computer code for providing information to other applications based upon the time of the secure clock.

16. A module, comprising:

a processor for processing information; and

a memory unit operatively connected to the processor and including a computer program product for providing modified rights information to an application, comprising;

computer code for monitoring a system clock;

computer code for monitoring a secure clock;

computer code for calculating the difference between a time of the system clock and a time of the secure clock;

computer code for modifying access rights information for the application by the difference between the time of the system clock and the time of the secure clock; and

computer code for providing the modified access rights information to the application.

17. The module of claim 16, further comprising computer code for providing a time to a user based upon the difference between the time of the system clock and the time of the secure clock.

18. The module of claim 16, wherein information regarding the secure clock is hidden from other applications on the electronic device.

19. The module of claim 16, wherein information regarding the secure clock is hidden from a user of the electronic device.

20. The module of claim 16, wherein the memory unit further comprises computer code for providing information to other applications based upon the time of the secure clock.