System and method for upgrading the functionality of a controlling device in a secure manner

• US 8,166,558 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Meijer, Gerben, Hayes, Patrick H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arani, Taghi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jeudy, Josnel
• Application Number:
  US11/726,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20080235406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 713/167, 713/193, 713155-159, 713168-174, 726 27- 30, 726 2- 8, 709/225, 709/229
• US Class Current: 726/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/57 Certifying or maintaining trusted computer platforms, e.g. secure boots or power-downs, version controls, system software checks, secure updates or assessing vulnerabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control

Abstract

Secure access to a database of upgrade data is provided by storing an encryption key value in a cable used to interconnect a first device and a second device that is associated with the database of upgrade data. The second device allows access to the database of upgrade data via the cable only when the cable is first positively authenticated by the second device through use of the encryption key value stored in the cable.

Claims

1. A method for using an interconnection cable comprising a memory and adapted to interconnect a first device and a second device to provide secure access to a database of upgrade data, comprising:

placing the interconnection cable into communication with the second device through which the database of upgrade data is accessible;

attempting to authenticate the interconnection cable at the second device using a pre-established value stored in the memory of the interconnection cable; and

allowing access to the database of upgrade data via the second device and the interconnection cable only after the interconnection cable is authenticated through use of the pre-established value stored in the memory of the interconnection cable.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising replicating the pre-established value at the second device to thereby authenticate the interconnection cable.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the pre-established value comprises an encryption key value.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising accessing the database of upgrade data to download into the memory of the interconnection cable upgrade data appropriate for upgrading the interconnection cable.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, comprising encrypting the interconnection cable upgrade data using an encryption key value stored in the memory of the interconnection cable.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the interconnection cable upgrade data comprises a new encryption key value.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising storing in the memory of the interconnection cable data used to limit access to the upgrade data stored in the database of upgrade data.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the limit comprises at least one of a time dependent limit and an absolute limit.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein placing the interconnection cable into communication with the second device comprises establishing a wired connection between the interconnection cable and the second device.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein placing the interconnection cable into communication with the second device comprises establishing a wireless connection between the interconnection cable and the second device.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising using data stored in the memory of the interconnection cable to register the interconnection cable with a registration database.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising:

placing the interconnection cable into communication with the first device;

attempting to authenticate the first device at the second device using a further pre-established value stored in a memory of the first device; and

allowing upgrade data appropriate for the first device to be provided to the first device from the database of upgrade data via the second device and the interconnection cable only after the first device is authenticated through use of the further pre-established value stored in the memory of the first device.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the first device comprises a controlling device and the upgrade data appropriate for the first device comprises command data.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the further pre-established value stored in the memory of the first device comprises an encryption key value.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, comprising using the further pre-established value stored in the memory of the first device to encrypt the upgrade data appropriate for the first device.

16. The method as recited in claim 12, comprising using data stored in the memory of the first device to register the first device in a registration database.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, comprising using the registration database to select upgrade data from the upgrade database for downloading to the first device.

18. The method as recited in claim 12, comprising accessing the database of upgrade data to download into the interconnection cable upgrade data appropriate for the interconnection cable.

19. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein placing the interconnection cable into communication with the first device comprises establishing a wired connection between the interconnection cable and the first device.

20. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein placing the interconnection cable into communication with the first device comprises establishing a wireless connection between the interconnection cable and the first device.

21. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second device comprises a gateway device in communication with a server device by which the database of upgrade data is accessible.

22. A system for providing secure access to a database of upgrade data, comprising:

a first device;

a second device through which the database of upgrade data is accessible; and

an interconnection cable for placing the first device into communication with the second device having a memory in which is stored a pre-established value;

wherein the second device attempts to authenticate the interconnection cable using the pre-established value stored in the memory of the interconnection cable and allows access to the database of upgrade data via the interconnection cable only after the interconnection cable is authenticated through use of the pre-established value stored in the memory of the interconnection cable.

23. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the pre-established value comprises an encryption key value.

24. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein the memory of the interconnection cable has stored therein data used by the second device to limit access to the upgrade data stored in the database of upgrade data.

25. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the limit comprises at least one of a time dependent limit and an absolute limit.

26. An interconnection cable for placing a first device into communication with a second device, the interconnection cable comprising:

a first interface for placing the interconnection cable into communication with the first device;

a second interface for placing the interconnection cable into communication with the second device;

a microprocessor having associated programming for providing communications protocol conversion between the first interface and the second interface; and

a memory storing a pre-established value which is to be provided to the second device via the second interface to thereby authenticate the interconnection cable with the second device.

27. The interconnection cable as recited in claim 26, wherein the pre-established value comprises a value that is to be replicated at the second device.

28. The interconnection cable as recited in claim 26, wherein the pre-established value comprises an encryption key value.

29. The interconnection cable as recited in claim 26, wherein the first interface comprises a wireless interface.

30. The interconnection cable as recited in claim 26, wherein the first interface comprises a wired interface.

31. The interconnection cable as recited in claim 26, wherein the second interface comprises a wireless interface.

32. The interconnection cable as recited in claim 26, wherein the second interface comprises a wired interface.

33. The interconnection cable as recited in claim 26, wherein the first interface comprises a simple serial interface and the second interface comprises a USB interface.

34. The interconnection cable as recited in claim 26, wherein a unique serial number for the interconnection cable is stored within the memory.

35. The interconnection cable as recited in claim 26, wherein a limit value is stored within the memory, the limit value being used to limit access to upgrade data provided by the second device via the interconnection cable.