Write once system and method for facilitating digital encrypted transmissions
First Claim
1. A digital device for facilitating use of encryption for digital signals, the interface device comprising:
- a non-volatile memory having a write-protectable area allocated for storing an encryption flag at a flag address and encryption data;
said write-protectable area being rendered read-only when a predetermined flag value is stored at said flag address; and
whereby encryption data stored in said write-protectable area of said non-volatile cannot be altered by a subsequent write operation to said non-volatile memory after said write-protectable area is rendered read-only.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A digital interface device is provided for facilitating key encryption of a digital signal which is communicated from a computer system to an associated peripheral device, such as a digital display device. The digital interface device has a digital output, digital output formatting circuitry associated with the output and a non-volatile RAM for storing a basic input/output system (BIOS) for, inter alia, controlling digital output formatting. The interface device is configured such that the non-volatile RAM has a specific addressable write-protectable area allocated for storing an encryption key flag at a flag address along with encryption key data. The write-protectable area is rendered read-only when a predetermined flag value is stored at the flag address. Thus, encryption key data may be stored in the specific write-protectable area of the non-volatile RAM in connection with storing the predetermined flag at that flag address such that encryption data cannot be altered when the flash RAM is subsequently written to, such as when a BIOS stored in the non-volatile RAM is updated.
28 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A digital device for facilitating use of encryption for digital signals, the interface device comprising:
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a non-volatile memory having a write-protectable area allocated for storing an encryption flag at a flag address and encryption data;
said write-protectable area being rendered read-only when a predetermined flag value is stored at said flag address; and
whereby encryption data stored in said write-protectable area of said non-volatile cannot be altered by a subsequent write operation to said non-volatile memory after said write-protectable area is rendered read-only. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for facilitating the use of digital encryption comprising:
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providing a digital device having a non-volatile memory;
allocating a specific addressable area on said non-volatile memory for storing an encryption flag and encryption data; and
rendering said specific area read-only when a predetermined flag value is written in said specific addressable area at a flag address. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A configurable device for providing decryption of encrypted signals comprising:
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a memory having a write-protectable area allocated for storing an encryption flag at a flag address and encryption data;
said write-protectable area being rendered read-only when a predetermined flag value is stored at said flag address;
whereby the ability to alter encryption data stored in said write-protectable area of said memory is dependent upon said flag value. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification