Security module and personalization method for such a security module

• US 20090249085A1
• Filed: 06/05/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nagravision SA (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: NagraCard SA (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Stransky, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US12/457,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20090249085A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/194
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/73 by creating or determining hardware identification, e.g. serial numbers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/77 in smart cards

Abstract

This invention relates to a security module comprising a microprocessor, a program memory containing at least one operating program and unique identification means of said module. This security module is characterized in that the identification means are constituted by a set of unique and artificial computer codes, compatible with their execution by said microprocessor of the module and stored in the program memory.

The invention also concerns a personalization method of a security module by a unique identifier, this module comprising a microprocessor and a program memory containing at least one operating program. The method of the invention is characterized in that it includes the steps of generation of a unique set of computer codes, called artificial computer codes and the writing of this set of codes in the program memory in specific memory locations.

Claims

1. Security module comprising a microprocessor, a program memory containing at least one operating program and a unique identifier of said module, wherein the unique identifier is constituted by a set of artificial computer codes executable by said microprocessor of the module and stored in the program memory.

2. Security module according to claim 1, wherein said computer codes are placed in a specific instruction block.

3. Security module according to claim 1, wherein said artificial computer codes are divided among the computer codes forming the operating program.

4. Security module according to claim 1, wherein said artificial computer codes are not executed by said microprocessor.

5. Security module according to claim 1, wherein said artificial computer codes do not modify the development of the operating program executed by said microprocessor.

6. Security module according to claim 1, wherein said module further includes a set of artificial computer codes that are not used for the operation of the security module, nor for the formation of the unique identifier.

7. Security module according to claim 1, wherein said artificial computer codes are stored in the program memory after the security module is switched on.

8. Personalization method of a security module by a unique identifier, the module comprising a microprocessor and a programme memory containing at least one operating program, the method comprising:

generation of a set of unique computer codes called artificial computer codes; and

writing the set of unique computer codes in the program memory in specific memory locations.

9. Personalization method according to claim 8, wherein the security module receives a message comprising means to generate said set of artificial computer codes.

10. Personalization method according to claim 9, wherein the said message is received after the security module is powered on.

11. Personalization method according to claim 10, wherein the set of artificial computer codes is deleted from the memory of the security module when this security module is powered off.

12. Personalization method according to claim 9, wherein the means for generating said set of artificial computer codes comprises an algorithm.

13. Personalization method according to claim 12, wherein the artificial computer codes are generated by using said algorithm applied on data pertaining to the security module.

14. Personalization method according to claim 8, wherein the artificial computer codes arranged in said specific memory locations are not executed by said microprocessor.

15. Personalization method according to claim 8, wherein the artificial computer codes arranged in said specific memory locations have no influence on the execution by said microprocessor of the operating program.

16. Personalization method according to claim 8, wherein said artificial computer codes forming said unique set are selected from among a computer code library.

17. Personalization method according to claim 8, wherein said artificial computer codes form an instruction block different from the computer codes making up the operating program.

18. Personalization method according to claim 8, wherein said artificial computer codes are dispersed among the computer codes constituting the operating program.

19. Personalization method according to claim 8, wherein the computer codes are processed in such a way as to conceal the structure of the program formed with these codes.

20. Identification method of a security module comprising a microprocessor, a program memory containing at least one operating program and a unique identifier of said module, the unique identifier being constituted by a set of artificial computer codes executable by said microprocessor of the module and stored in the program memory, and in which computer codes have been made accessible to the public, this method comprising:

extracting the artificial computer codes from among the computer codes made accessible to the public;

processing of said artificial computer codes according to preset rules to deduce the unique identifier of said security module.