System and method for dynamic assignment of unique serial number to system device

• US 6,490,637 B1
• Filed: 08/24/1999
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Conexant Systems Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shih, Liang-Kuang
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perveen, Rehana
• Application Number:
  US09/379,994
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 710/8, 710/10, 710/15, 710/19, 710/16, 713/1
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/575 Secure boot
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/73 by creating or determining hardware identification, e.g. serial numbers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user

Abstract

A method and system for assigning during configuration of a computer device a unique serial number is disclosed. The method uses firmware embedded within the device which when first initialized executes code for assigning and storing a unique serial number by use of a random number generator. In one embodiment, the unique serial number is generated based on the device'"'"'s internal clock. Based on the amount of bit space typically reserved for a device'"'"'s serial number, the number of combinations are great enough to make the serial number unique by use of a random number. Once the serial number is stored in the devices embedded firmware a random number is never generated again.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for dynamically assigning a unique serial number to a device communicatively coupled with a computer system, the method comprising:

examining a serial number storage area located within the device to determine if a unique serial number has been established for the device;

responsive to a determination that no unique serial number has been established, generating a unique serial number based on a system clock associated with the device;

storing the serial number in the serial number storage area, wherein the serial number storage area is contained in a non volatile memory and the serial number is thereafter used by the device for communication within the computer system; and

sending the serial number to a controller located within the device.

2. The method for device communication identification according to claim 1, wherein determining if the device has the serial number area initialized further comprises the step of:

executing code embedded in firmware located within the device.

3. The method for device communication identification according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

storing the unique serial number in flash ROM located within the device.

4. The method for device communication identification according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

utilizing a modem as the device whereby the modem conforms to a USB standard.

5. The method for device communication identification according to claim 1, farther comprising the step of:

responsive to a determination that the serial umber area is initialized reading a unique serial number from the serial number area and sending the unique serial number to a controller located within the device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating step further comprises using a random number generator to generate a unique serial number.

6. A system for device communication identification comprising:

means for determining if a device has a serial number area initialized, and means for generating and storing a unique serial number in the serial number area when the serial number area is not initialized, wherein the serial number is thereafter used by the device for communication within the computer system.

7. The system for device communication identification according to claim 6, further comprising:

means for generating the unique serial number using a random number generator.

8. The system for device communication identification according to claim 6, further comprising:

means for generating the unique serial number using an internal clock located within the device.

9. The system for device communication identification according to claim 6, further comprising:

means for determining if the device has the serial number area initialized by executing code embedded in firmware located within the device.

10. The system for device communication identification according to claim 6, further comprising:

means for storing the unique serial number in flash ROM located within the device.

11. The system for device communication identification according to claim 6, further comprising:

means for generating and storing a unique serial number utilizing a modem conforming to a USB standard.

12. The system for device communication identification according to claim 6, further comprising:

means for sending the unique serial number to a controller located within the device upon reading a unique serial number from the serial number area.

13. A computer program product, comprising:

instruction means for determining if a device has a serial number area initialized and instruction means for generating and storing a unique serial number in the serial number area when the serial number area is not initialized, wherein the serial number is thereafter used by the device for communication within the computer system.

14. The computer program product according to claim 13, further comprising:

instruction means for generating the unique serial number using a random number generator.

15. The computer program product according to claim 13, further comprising:

instruction means for generating the unique serial number using an internal clock located within the device.

16. The computer program product according to claim 13, further comprising:

instruction means for determining if the device has the serial number area initialized by executing code embedded in firmware located within the device.

17. The computer program product according to claim 13, further comprising:

instruction means for storing the unique serial number in flash ROM located within the device.

19. A system for dynamically assigning a unique serial number to a device communicatively coupled with a computer system, the system comprising:

a non volatile memory having a serial number storage area and an executable firmware program, the serial number storage area adapted to store a unique serial number for the device;

a volatile memory; and

a controller, wherein the controller fetches the firmware program in the non volatile memory, loads the firmware program in the volatile memory, executes the firmware program to establish a unique serial number for the device, and stores the unique serial number in the serial number storage area, wherein the serial number is thereafter used by the device for communication within the computer system.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a random number generator configured to generate the unique serial number.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising;

an internal clock located within the device configured to generate the unique serial number.

22. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

flash ROM located within the device configured to store the unique serial number.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the device is a modem conforming to a USB standard.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the generating step further comprises using a random number generator to generate a unique serial number.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein determining if the device has the serial number area initialized further comprises the step of:

executing code embedded in firmware located within the device.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 20, Her comprising the step of:

storing the unique serial number in flash ROM located within the device.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 20, further comprising the step of:

utilizing a modem as the device whereby the modem conforms to a USB standard.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 20, further comprising the step of:

responsive to a determination that the serial umber area is initialized, reading a unique serial number from the serial number area and sending the unique serial number to a controller located within the device.

24. A computer readable medium having stored thereon one or more sequences of instructions for causing one or more microprocessors to perform the steps for dynamically assigning a unique serial number to a device communicatively coupled with a computer system, the steps comprising:

examining a serial number storage area located within the device to determine if a unique serial number has been established for the device;

responsive to a determination that no unique serial number has been established, generating a unique serial number based on a system clock associated with the device;

storing the serial number in the serial number storage area, wherein the serial number storage area is contained in a non volatile memory and the serial number is thereafter used by the device for communication within the computer system; and

sending the serial number to a controller located within the device.