System and method for self-identifying a portable information device to a computing unit
First Claim
1. A method for conducting a transaction between an electronic portable information device and a communicating agent, the portable information device having processing capabilities, memory, and an I/O interface, the portable information device further having a device class tag stored thereon which is indicative of a type of the portable information device, the method comprising the following steps:
- forming an output string at the portable information device, the output string including at least a portion that is a result of a mathematical function involving the device class tag in which the device class tag is computationally difficult to deduce from the result;
exporting the output string from the portable information device to the communicating agent; and
identifying the type of the portable information device using the exported output string.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes a portable information device and a computing unit, and is architected to enable the portable information device to identify its type and properties to the computing unit. The portable information device has a processor and a memory. The memory stores a device class tag which is indicative of a type of the portable information device. When communication is established between the portable information device and the computing unit, the portable information device sends an initial message which includes a result of a mathematical operation involving the device class tag. The mathematical operation renders it computationally difficult or infeasible to deduce the device class tag from the result so that the device class tag is not exposed from the portable information device. The result might be a hash value of the device class tag which is derived using a hashing function, or data that has been signed using the device class tag as a private signing key. The computing unit uses the tag-related portion of the message to identify the type of the portable information device. The computing unit has access to a record which correlates the hash value or complementary device class public signing key (i.e., the complementary version of the device class tag when used as a private signing key) with the type of device, as well as with the device'"'"'s security properties and operating attributes. The computing unit cross-references the hash value or device class public signing key to determine the device type. The computing unit can be a certifying authority which issues a certificate confirming the identity and type of portable information device. The certificate is stored on the portable information device and presented thereafter to all communicating agents to identify the device type and attributes for transactions.
346 Citations
38 Claims
-
1. A method for conducting a transaction between an electronic portable information device and a communicating agent, the portable information device having processing capabilities, memory, and an I/O interface, the portable information device further having a device class tag stored thereon which is indicative of a type of the portable information device, the method comprising the following steps:
-
forming an output string at the portable information device, the output string including at least a portion that is a result of a mathematical function involving the device class tag in which the device class tag is computationally difficult to deduce from the result; exporting the output string from the portable information device to the communicating agent; and identifying the type of the portable information device using the exported output string. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method for producing a self-identifying portable infornation device, the portable information device having processing capabilities and memory, the method comprising the following steps:
-
creating a device class tag, the device class tag having a complementary value which can be mathematically derived from the device class tag in a manner which renders the device class tag computationally difficult to deduce from the complementary value; electronically storing the device class tag in the memory of the portable information device; and correlating the complementary value with a type of the portable information device so that knowledge of the complementary value leads to identification of the type of the portable information device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for identifying a type of portable information device, the portable information device having processing capabilities, memory, and an I/O interface, the portable information device further having a private device class signing key stored thereon which is indicative of a type of the portable information device, the method comprising the following steps:
-
receiving a signed message from the portable information device, the message having been digitally signed using the private device class signing key on the portable information device; ascertaining a public signing key that is complementary to the private device class signing key and effective to unsign the message;
using the public signing key to identify the type of the portable information device;determining security properties associated with the identified portable information device; and determining operating attributes associated with the identified portable information device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for identifying a type of portable information device, the portable information device having processing capabilities, memory, and an I/O interface, the portable information device further having a private device class tag stored thereon which is indicative of a type of the portable information device, the method comprising the following steps:
-
receiving a hash value from the portable information device, the hash value being a result of transforming the device class tag according to a hashing function; determining the type of the portable information device from the received hash value; determining security properties associated with the identified portable information device; and determining operating attributes associated with the identified portable information device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A method in which a portable information device identifies itself to a communicating agent, the portable information device having processing capabilities, memory, and an IO interface, the portable information device further having a device class tag stored thereon which is indicative of a type of the portable information device, the method comprising the following steps:
-
generating an identification packet; including as part of the identification packet a result of a mathematical function involving the device class tag in which the device class tag is computationally difficult to deduce from the result; and outputting the identification packet to the communicating agent. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. A method for registering a portable information device at a certifying authority, the portable information device having processing capabilities, memory, and an I/O interface, the portable information device further having a private device class signing key stored thereon, the certifying authority having access to a record which correlates public device class signing keys with various types of portable information devices, the method comprising the following steps:
-
generating a pair of public and private keys at the portable information device; digitally signing the public key, at the portable information device, using the private device class signing key stored thereon; submitting the signed public key as part of a request to the certifying authority; receiving the signed public key at the certifying authority; ascertaining a corresponding public class device signing key that is complementary to the private device class signing key and is effective to unsign the message; and referencing the record using the ascertained public class device signing key to identify the type of the portable information device. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
-
-
31. A system comprising:
-
a computing unit; a portable information device having a processor and a memory, the memory storing a device class tag and data, the device class tag being indicative of a type of the portable information device; the portable information device being configured to output a message, at least a portion of the message being a result of a mathematical operation involving the device class tag in which the device class tag is computationally difficult to deduce from the result; and the computing unit being configured to use the portion of message to identify the type of the portable information device. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
-
-
38. A tamper-resistant portable information device comprising:
-
a memory to store a device class private signing key indicative of a type of the portable information device; and a processor to generate an identification packet that is output to a communicating agent external to the portable information device, the processor being configured to perform at least one of the following tasks (1) sign at least a portion of the identification packet using the device class private signing key, or (2) compute a hash value of the device class private signing key and include the hash value as part of the identification packet.
-
Specification