Method and apparatus for implementing secure clock in device having no internal power source

• US 20070133614A1
• Filed: 12/06/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Oh, Yun-sang, Jung, Kyung-im, Sim, Sang-gyoo, Lee, Suk-bong
• Granted Patent: US 8,005,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/503
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/14 Time supervision arrangements, e.g. real time clock
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2135 Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data

Abstract

A method and apparatus for implementing a secure clock having no internal power source are disclosed. The apparatus accesses a host device having an internal power source and transmits and receives data. The apparatus includes a clock control unit, a counter, and a time information unit. The clock control unit performs control such that the time information of the host device is acquired and a counter value corresponding to the acquired time information is set, when the clock control unit is connected to the host device and is supplied with power from the host device. The counter changes the set counter value in steps of a predetermined value at regular time intervals while the power is supplied. The time information unit updates current time information to correspond to the changed counter value while the power is supplied.

Claims

1. A slave device having no internal power source, the slave device accessing a host device having an internal power source and transmitting and receiving data, the slave device comprising:

a clock control unit which performs control such that time information of the host device is acquired and a counter value corresponding to the acquired time information is set, if the clock control unit is connected to the host device and is supplied with power from the host device;

a counter which changes the set counter value in steps of a predetermined value at regular time intervals while the power is supplied; and

a time information unit which updates current time information to correspond to the counter value changed by the counter while the power is supplied.

2. The slave device of claim 1, wherein the time information unit stores the time information at a time point at which a connection to the host device is released.

3. The slave device of claim 1, wherein the slave device is implemented in a Secure MultiMediaCard form.

4. The slave device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined value is one.

5. The slave device of claim 3, further comprising:

a rights object storage unit which stores a rights object for a content object; and

a rights object update acknowledgement unit which generates an acknowledgement and transmits the generated acknowledgement to the host device, when there is a request for an update of the rights object from the host device;

wherein the acknowledgement is based on the time information stored in the time information unit.

8. The slave device of claim 1, wherein a data channel which transmits and receives various data and a power channel which receives the power are included between the host device and the slave device.

9. The slave device of claim 1, wherein the time information unit stores a most recent counter value of the counter when a connection to the host device is released.

10. The slave device of claim 5, wherein the rights object includes at least one of a possible play time, a play end time, and a number of repetitions of play.

6. A system comprising:

a slave device having no internal power source, the slave device accessing a host device having an internal power source and transmitting and receiving data, the slave device comprising;

a clock control unit which performs control such that time information of the host device is acquired and a counter value corresponding to the acquired time information is set, if the clock control unit is connected to the host device and is supplied with power from the host device;

a counter which changes the set counter value in steps of a predetermined value at regular time intervals while the power is supplied;

a time information unit which updates current time information to correspond to the counter value changed by the counter while the power is supplied;

a rights object storage unit which stores a rights object for a content object; and

a rights object update acknowledgement unit which generates an acknowledgement and transmits the generated acknowledgement to the host device, when there is a request for an update of the rights object from the host device;

wherein the acknowledgement is based on the time information stored in the time information unit; and

the host device comprising;

a rights object update unit which updates an internal rights object;

a content object execution unit which executes the content object to an extent allowed by rights corresponding to the updated internal rights object; and

a rights object update request unit which requests the slave device for the acknowledgement to update the internal rights object for the content object at regular time intervals or at a given time point according to instructions from the content object execution unit.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the host device further comprises:

a rights object request unit which requests the rights object stored in the slave device; and

an I/O interface which receives the acknowledgement from the slave device;

wherein the update of the rights object is performed in response to the acknowledgement.

11. A slave device having no internal power source, the slave device accessing a host device having an internal power source and transmitting and receiving data, the slave device comprising:

an Input/Output (I/O) interface which receives a message which requests a rights object or an update of the rights object and includes time information of the host device, from the host device, when the I/O interface is connected to the host device and receives power from the host device; and

a time information unit which updates and stores current time information using the time information included in the received message while the power is supplied.

12. A method of implementing a clock of a slave device having no internal power source, the slave device accessing a host device having an internal power source and transmitting and receiving data, the method comprising:

performing control such that time information of the host device is acquired and a counter value corresponding to the acquired time information is set when the slave device is connected to the host device and receives power from the host device;

changing the set counter value in steps of a predetermined value at regular time intervals while the power is supplied; and

storing current time information corresponding to the changed counter value while the power is supplied.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the slave device is implemented in a Secure MultiMediaCard (SecureMMC) form.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined value is one.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

storing a rights object for a content object; and

generating an acknowledgement and transmitting the generated acknowledgement to the host device when there is a request for an update of the rights object from the host device;

wherein the acknowledgement is based on the stored time information.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

updating an internal rights object;

executing the content object to an extent allowed by rights corresponding to the updated rights object; and

requesting the slave device to update the rights object for the content object at regular time intervals or at a given time point according to instructions.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

requesting the rights object stored in the slave device; and

receiving the acknowledgement from the slave device;

wherein the update of the rights object is performed in response to the acknowledgement.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein a data channel which transmits and receives various data and a power channel which receives the power are included between the host device and the slave device.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the time information unit stores a most recent counter value of the counter when a connection to the host device is released.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the rights object includes at least one of a possible play time, a play end time, and a number of repetitions of play.