Systems and methods using cryptography to protect secure computing environments

• US 7,734,553 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intertrust Technologies Corporation (Fidelio Acquisition Co LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intertrust Technologies Corporation (Fidelio Acquisition Co LLC)
• Inventors: Sibert, W. Olin, Shear, Victor H., Van Wie, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Augustin; Evens J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kamal; Shahid
• Application Number:
  US11/894,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20080077531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 705 51- 79, 713/153, 713/167, 726/27
• US Class Current: 705/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1483 using an access-table, e.g. matrix or list
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/51 at application loading time, e.g. accepting, rejecting, starting or inhibiting executable software based on integrity or source reliability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3823 combining multiple encryption tools for a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3825 Use of electronic signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00159 Parental control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00173 wherein the origin of the content is checked, e.g. determining whether the content has originally been retrieved from a legal disc copy or another trusted source
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00188 involving measures which result in a restriction to authorised devices recording or reproducing contents to/from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00195 using a device identifier associated with the player or recorder, e.g. serial numbers of playback apparatuses or MAC addresses
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00543 wherein external data is encrypted, e.g. for secure communication with an external device or for encrypting content on a separate record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00557 wherein further management data is encrypted, e.g. sector headers, TOC or the lead-in or lead-out areas
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00688 : said measures preventing that a usable copy of recorded data can be made on another medium
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0071 : involving a purchase action
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00768 : wherein copy control information is used, e.g. for indicating whether a content may be copied freely, no more, once, or never, by setting CGMS, SCMS, or CCI flags
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 : Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/218 : Write-once discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 : DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2575 : DVD-RAMs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 : Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 : on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40104 : Security; Encryption; Content protection cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; protocols for network security H04L63/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40117 : Interconnection of audio or video/imaging devices home automation networks H04L12/2803; bitstream network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24

Abstract

Secure computation environments are protected from bogus or rogue load modules, executables and other data elements through use of digital signatures, seals and certificates issued by a verifying authority. A verifying authority—which may be a trusted independent third party—tests the load modules or other executables to verify that their corresponding specifications are accurate and complete, and then digitally signs the load module or other executable based on tamper resistance work factor classification. Secure computation environments with different tamper resistance work factors use different verification digital signature authentication techniques (e.g., different signature algorithms and/or signature verification keys)—allowing one tamper resistance work factor environment to protect itself against load modules from another, different tamper resistance work factor environment. Several dissimilar digital signature algorithms may be used to reduce vulnerability from algorithm compromise, and subsets of multiple digital signatures may be used to reduce the scope of any specific compromise.

Claims

1. A method performed by an electronic appliance comprising a protected processing environment, the protected processing environment comprising a plurality of processing environments, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first digital signature associated with a first load module;

authenticating the first digital signature using a first key; and

conditionally executing the first load module based at least in part on a result of the authenticating step, including limiting access by the first load module to a first set of resources associated with a first processing environment of the plurality of processing environments;

wherein the protected processing environment is resistant to tampering by a user of the electronic appliance with at least the steps of authenticating the first digital signature and conditionally executing the first load module.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second digital signature associated with the first load module;

authenticating the second digital signature using a second key; and

conditionally executing the first load module based at least in part on a result of the step of authenticating the second digital signature, including limiting access by the first load module to a second set of resources associated with a second processing environment of the plurality of processing environments, the second processing environment having an assurance level that is different from an assurance level of the first processing environment.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second digital signature associated with a second load module;

authenticating the second digital signature using a second key; and

conditionally executing the second load module based at least in part on a result of the step of authenticating the second digital signature, including limiting access by the second load module to a second set of resources associated with a second processing environment of the plurality of processing environments, the second processing environment having an assurance level that is different from an assurance level of the first processing environment.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

distributing the first load module to a second electronic appliance, the second electronic appliance comprising a protected processing environment that is resistant to tampering by a user of the second electronic appliance, the second electronic appliance being operable to authenticate the first digital signature and to conditionally execute the first load module.

5. The method claim 1, in which conditionally executing the first load module comprises conditionally executing the first load module to record an aspect of usage of a piece of electronic content.

6. The method of claim 1, in which conditionally executing the first load module comprises conditionally executing the first load module to prevent a user of the electronic appliance from making a copy of a piece of electronic content.

7. The method of claim 1, in which conditionally executing the first load module comprises conditionally executing the first load module to charge a user of the electronic appliance a fee for viewing a piece of electronic content.

8. The method of claim 1, in which conditionally executing the first load module comprises conditionally executing the first load module to enable the electronic appliance to play a piece of electronic content.

9. The method of claim 1, in which conditionally executing the first load module comprises conditionally executing the first load module to enable the electronic appliance to perform a financial transaction.

10. A computer-readable medium comprising program code, the program code being operable, when executed by an electronic appliance comprising a protected processing environment that is resistant to tampering by users of the electronic appliance, the protected processing environment comprising a plurality of processing environments, to cause the electronic appliance to perform steps comprising:

receiving a first digital signature associated with a first load module;

authenticating the first digital signature using a first key; and

conditionally executing the first load module based at least in part on a result of the authenticating step, including limiting access by the first load module to a first set of resources associated with a first processing environment of the plurality of processing environments.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further including program code that is operable, when executed by the electronic appliance, to cause the electronic appliance to perform steps comprising:

receiving a second digital signature associated with the first load module;

authenticating the second digital signature using a second key; and

conditionally executing the first load module based at least in part on a result of the step of authenticating the second digital signature, including limiting access by the first load module to a second set of resources associated with a second processing environment of the plurality of processing environments, the second processing environment having an assurance level that is different from an assurance level of the first processing environment.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further including program code that is operable, when executed by the electronic appliance, to cause the electronic appliance to perform steps comprising:

receiving a second digital signature associated with a second load module;

authenticating the second digital signature using a second key; and

conditionally executing the second load module based at least in part on a result of the step of authenticating the second digital signature, including limiting access by the second load module to a second set of resources associated with a second processing environment of the plurality of processing environments, the second processing environment having an assurance level that is different from an assurance level of the first processing environment.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further including program code that is operable, when executed by the electronic appliance, to cause the electronic appliance to perform the step of:

distributing the first load module to a second electronic appliance, the second electronic appliance comprising a protected processing environment that is resistant to tampering by a user of the second electronic appliance, the second electronic appliance being operable to authenticate the first digital signature and to conditionally execute the first load module.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further including the first load module, the first load module being operable, when executed by the electronic appliance, to cause the electronic appliance to perform at least one action selected from the group consisting of:

recording an aspect of usage of a piece of electronic content, preventing a user of the electronic appliance from making a copy of a piece of electronic content, charging a user of the electronic appliance a fee for viewing a piece of electronic content, enabling the electronic appliance to play a piece of electronic content, and enabling the electronic appliance to perform a financial transaction.

15. A system comprising:

an electronic appliance comprising a protected processing environment, the protected processing environment comprising a plurality of processing environments;

means for receiving a first digital signature associated with a first load module;

means for authenticating the first digital signature using a first key; and

means for conditionally executing the first load module based at least in part on a result generated by the means for authenticating the first digital signature, including means for limiting access by the first load module to a first set of resources associated with a first processing environment of the plurality of processing environments;

wherein the protected processing environment is resistant to tampering by a user of the electronic appliance with at least the means for authenticating the first digital signature and the means for conditionally executing the first load module.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

means for receiving a second digital signature associated with the first load module;

means for authenticating the second digital signature using a second key; and

means for conditionally executing the first load module based at least in part on a result generated by the means for authenticating the second digital signature, including means for limiting access by the first load module to a second set of resources associated with a second processing environment of the plurality of processing environments, the second processing environment having an assurance level that is different from an assurance level of the first processing environment.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

means for receiving a second digital signature associated with a second load module;

means for authenticating the second digital signature using a second key; and

means for conditionally executing the second load module based at least in part on a result generated by the means for authenticating the second digital signature, including means for limiting access by the second load module to a second set of resources associated with a second processing environment of the plurality of processing environments, the second processing environment having an assurance level that is different from an assurance level of the first processing environment.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

means for distributing the first load module to a second electronic appliance, the second electronic appliance comprising a protected processing environment that is resistant to tampering by a user of the second electronic appliance, the second electronic appliance being operable to authenticate the first digital signature and to conditionally execute the first load module.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising a computer-readable medium storing the first load module, the first load module being operable, when executed by the electronic appliance, to cause the electronic appliance to perform at least one action selected from the group consisting of:

recording an aspect of usage of a piece of electronic content, preventing a user of the electronic appliance from making a copy of a piece of electronic content, and charging a user of the electronic appliance a fee for viewing a piece of electronic content.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising a computer-readable medium storing the first load module, the first load module being operable, when executed by the electronic appliance, to cause the electronic appliance to perform at least one action selected from the group consisting of:

enabling the electronic appliance to play a piece of electronic content, and enabling the electronic appliance to perform a financial transaction.