SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING SERIALIZATION OF DEVICES

• US 20110063093A1
• Filed: 07/12/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Certicom Corporation (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Tse, Chi Chiu, Fung, Eric, Neill, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 9,208,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.52
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/04 Manufacturing

Abstract

A serialization service module is provided for configuring an asset management system to provide a secure means of generating, assigning to chips (or other electronic objects or devices), and tracking unique serial numbers. To provide this service, a controller is used to define a product model, then to define one or more serialization schemas to be bound to each product model. Each serialization schema contains a range of serial numbers for a particular product. The serial number schemas are sent over a secure, encrypted connection to appliances at the manufacturer'"'"'s location. Agents can then request serial number values by product name. The serial numbers are generated by the appliance, metered, and provided to the agents. The serial numbers are then injected sequentially into each die in a chip manufacturing process using the agent.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing an appliance communicatively connectable to a controller, said appliance being configured to obtain electronic assets from said controller;

communicatively connecting said appliance to one or more agents to enable said appliance to provide said electronic assets to said one or more agents for enabling said one or more agents to apply said electronic assets to devices;

obtaining from said controller, a serialization schema defining a unique range of serial numbers and defining how to generate unique serial numbers within said range of serial numbers, said serialization scheme being bound to a particular type of device;

using said serialization schema to generate said serial numbers within said range and associating said serial numbers with said particular type of device; and

upon receiving a request for one or more serial numbers for said particular type of device from a requesting agent, providing said one or more serial numbers to said requesting agent.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising obtaining log data from said requesting agent indicative of application of serial numbers to said particular type of device.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising providing said log data to said controller to enable said controller to monitor said providing.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein said log data comprises a location on a die associated with said serial numbers or a time stamp associated with a time at which said serial numbers were added to said device.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sending a log report to said controller indicative of receipt of said serialization schema.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said serialization schema defines a range of serial numbers by:

defining a range of base values allowed in said schema,

defining a format for said base values,

defining a total number of characters for each serial number, and

determining if a static string is to be inserted into a resultant string generated from said base value.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said serial numbers are generated by:

for each base value;

determining if the base value is within said range,

representing said base value in said format,

truncating or padding a resultant string according to said total number of characters, and

if said static string is defined, inserting said static string in said resultant string to obtain said serial number.

8. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions that when executed cause a computing device to:

provide an appliance communicatively connectable to a controller, said appliance being configured to obtain electronic assets from said controller;

communicatively connect said appliance to one or more agents to enable said appliance to provide said electronic assets to said one or more agents for enabling said one or more agents to apply said electronic assets to devices;

obtain from said controller, a serialization schema defining a unique range of serial numbers and defining how to generate unique serial numbers within said range of serial numbers, said serialization scheme being bound to a particular type of device;

use said serialization schema to generate said serial numbers within said range and associating said serial numbers with said particular type of device; and

upon receiving a request for one or more serial numbers for said particular type of device from a requesting agent, provide said one or more serial numbers to said requesting agent.

9. The computer readable medium according to claim 8, further comprising instructions for obtaining log data from said requesting agent indicative of application of serial numbers to said particular type of device.

10. The computer readable medium according to claim 9, further comprising instructions for providing said log data to said controller to enable said controller to monitor providing said one or more serial numbers.

11. The computer readable medium according to claim 9, wherein said log data comprises a location on a die associated with said serial numbers or a time stamp associated with a time at which said serial numbers were added to said device.

12. The computer readable medium according to claim 8, further comprising instructions for sending a log report to said controller indicative of receipt of said serialization schema.

13. The computer readable medium according to claim 8, wherein said serialization schema defines a range of serial numbers by:

defining a range of base values allowed in said schema,

defining a format for said base values,

defining a total number of characters for each serial number, and

determining if a static string is to be inserted into a resultant string generated from said base value.

14. The computer readable medium according to claim 13, wherein said serial numbers are generated by:

for each base value;

determining if the base value is within said range,

representing said base value in said format,

truncating or padding a resultant string according to said total number of characters, and

if said static string is defined, inserting said static string in said resultant string to obtain said serial number.

15. An appliance device comprising a processor, memory and being communicatively connectable to a controller and one or more agents, said processor being configured to:

communicatively connect to said controller, said appliance being configured to obtain electronic assets from said controller;

communicatively connect to said one or more agents to enable said appliance to provide said electronic assets to said one or more agents for enabling said one or more agents to apply said electronic assets to devices;

obtain from said controller, a serialization schema defining a unique range of serial numbers and defining how to generate unique serial numbers within said range of serial numbers, said serialization scheme being bound to a particular type of device;

use said serialization schema to generate said serial numbers within said range and associating said serial numbers with said particular type of device; and

upon receiving a request for one or more serial numbers for said particular type of device from a requesting agent, provide said one or more serial numbers to said requesting agent.

16. A method comprising:

communicatively connecting a controller to an appliance, said controller being configured to provide electronic assets to said appliance, wherein communicatively connecting to said appliance enables said electronic assets to be provided by said appliance to one or more agents to enable said appliance to provide said electronic assets to said one or more agents for enabling said one or more agents to apply said electronic assets to devices;

generating a serialization schema defining a unique range of serial numbers and defining how to generate unique serial numbers within said range of serial numbers, said serialization scheme being bound to a particular type of device; and

providing said serialization scheme to said appliance to enable said appliance to generate said serial numbers within said range and associate said serial numbers with said particular type of device such that upon receiving a request for one or more serial numbers for said particular type of device from a requesting agent, said appliance can provide said one or more serial numbers to said requesting agent.

17. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions that when executed cause a computing device to:

communicatively connect a controller to an appliance, said controller being configured to provide electronic assets to said appliance, wherein communicatively connecting to said appliance enables said electronic assets to be provided by said appliance to one or more agents to enable said appliance to provide said electronic assets to said one or more agents for enabling said one or more agents to apply said electronic assets to devices;

generate a serialization schema defining a unique range of serial numbers and defining how to generate unique serial numbers within said range of serial numbers, said serialization scheme being bound to a particular type of device; and

provide said serialization scheme to said appliance to enable said appliance to generate said serial numbers within said range and associate said serial numbers with said particular type of device such that upon receiving a request for one or more serial numbers for said particular type of device from a requesting agent, said appliance can provide said one or more serial numbers to said requesting agent.

18. A controller device comprising a processor, memory and being communicatively connectable to one or more appliances, said processor being configured to:

communicatively connect to an appliance, said controller being configured to provide electronic assets to said appliance, wherein communicatively connecting to said appliance enables said electronic assets to be provided by said appliance to one or more agents to enable said appliance to provide said electronic assets to said one or more agents for enabling said one or more agents to apply said electronic assets to devices;

generate a serialization schema defining a unique range of serial numbers and defining how to generate unique serial numbers within said range of serial numbers, said serialization scheme being bound to a particular type of device; and

provide said serialization scheme to said appliance to enable said appliance to generate said serial numbers within said range and associate said serial numbers with said particular type of device such that upon receiving a request for one or more serial numbers for said particular type of device from a requesting agent, said appliance can provide said one or more serial numbers to said requesting agent.

19. A method comprising:

generating a serialization schema defining a range of serial numbers by;

defining a range of base values allowed in said schema,

defining a format for said base values,

defining a total number of characters for each serial number, and

determining if a static string is to be inserted into a resultant string generated from said base value; and

providing said serialization schema to a remote appliance for generating said serial numbers according to said schema.

20. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions that when executed cause a computing device to:

generate a serialization schema defining a range of serial numbers by;

defining a range of base values allowed in said schema,

defining a format for said base values,

defining a total number of characters for each serial number, and

determining if a static string is to be inserted into a resultant string generated from said base value; and

provide said serialization schema to a remote appliance for generating said serial numbers according to said schema.

21. A method comprising:

obtaining a serialization schema defining a range of serial numbers by;

defining a range of base values allowed in said schema,

defining a format for said base values,

defining a total number of characters for each serial number, and

determining if a static string is to be inserted into a resultant string generated from said base value; and

for each base value;

determine if the base value is within said range,

represent said base value in said format,

truncate or pad a resultant string according to said total number of characters, and

if said static string is defined, insert said static string in said resultant string to obtain said serial number.

22. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions that when executed cause a computing device to:

obtain a serialization schema defining a range of serial numbers by;

defining a range of base values allowed in said schema,

defining a format for said base values,

defining a total number of characters for each serial number, and

determining if a static string is to be inserted into a resultant string generated from said base value; and

for each base value;

determine if the base value is within said range,

represent said base value in said format,

truncate or pad a resultant string according to said total number of characters, and

if said static string is defined, insert said static string in said resultant string to obtain said serial number.