Memory authentication for intrinsically safe field maintenance tools

• US 7,526,802 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Kantzes, Christopher P., Mathiowetz, Brad N., Opheim, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Jr.; Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh; Minh
• Application Number:
  US10/440,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,174 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 726/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories

Abstract

A memory authentication technique for field maintenance tools is provided. A non-volatile electronic memory includes a unique software identifier. A non-reversible algorithm is applied to the unique software identifier to obtain a result. The result is then encrypted and compared with a stored encrypted result previously stored on the electronic memory. Based upon this comparison, the tool can be fully enabled, fully disabled, or selectively enabled.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating electronic removable non-volatile memory in a handheld field maintenance tool, the method comprising:

applying a non-reversible algorithm to a unique, non-changeable serial number of the memory to obtain a result;

encrypting the result;

comparing the encrypted result with a stored encrypted result stored on the memory;

enabling the handheld field maintenance tool by enabling selected functions of the tool if the encrypted result matches the stored encrypted result; and

fully disabling the handheld field maintenance tool if the encrypted result does not match the stored encrypted result.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored encrypted result is indicative of compliance with intrinsic safety.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored encrypted result is indicative of a software license.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory is a Secure Digital (SD) memory.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory complies with intrinsic safety.