Memory authentication for intrinsically safe field maintenance tools

• US 20040230821A1
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 7,526,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/200
• 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 software identifier on the memory to obtain a result;

encrypting the result;

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

selectively enabling the tool based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively enabling the tool includes completely disabling the tool if the encrypted result and the stored encrypted result do not match.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively enabling the tool includes enabling selected tool functions based on the comparison.

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

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

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

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

8. A method of adding functionality to a handheld field maintenance tool, the method comprising:

accessing a software identifier on a non-volatile electronic memory in the tool;

receiving a user selection relative to the added functionality;

executing a non-reversible algorithm on the software identifier based on the user selection to obtain a result;

encrypting the result; and

storing the encrypted result on the non-volatile electronic memory.

9. A non-volatile electronic memory article comprising:

an unchangeable unique software identifier associated with the article;

a Identification Code file stored thereon, the file containing an encrypted result of executing a non-reversible algorithm on the software identifier.

10. The article of claim 9, wherein the non-reversible algorithm is indicative of functionality relative to a handheld field maintenance tool.

11. The article of claim 9, wherein the non-reversible algorithm is indicative of whether the article complies with an intrinsic safety standard.