Methods and systems for securing data processing devices

• US 7,478,247 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DRNC Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hillcrest Laboratories Incorporated (CEVA Incorporated)
• Inventors: Penzias, Arno, Gritton, Charles W. K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrishamkar, Kaveh
• Application Number:
  US11/271,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20060130013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 713/189
• US Class Current: 713/189
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/14 against software analysis or reverse engineering, e.g. by obfuscation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application

Abstract

Methods and systems for improving the security of devices to prevent unauthorized access to designs and software code are described.

Claims

1. A method for operating an input device comprising the steps of:

storing an encrypted program in a non-volatile memory, wherein said encrypted program in non-volatile memory is one of a program controlling an inertial movement function, a program controlling a tremor reduction function, or a program describing a tremor classification system;

obtaining, by a first processor, a decryption key from a second processor, wherein said step of obtaining further comprises the steps of;

sending an identifier associated with said first processor to said second processor;

verifying, by said second processor, accessibility to said program for said first processor based on said identifier; and

selectively transmitting said decryption key to said first processor based on a result of said verifying step;

decrypting said program and storing said decrypted program in a volatile memory;

executing said program from said volatile memory;

re-encrypting said program and re-storing said program in said non-volatile memory; and

requiring a new decryption key for accessing said re-encrypted program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifier is an Internet Protocol address.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said encrypted program in non-volatile memory is said program controlling an inertial movement function.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said encrypted program in non-volatile memory is said program controlling a tremor reduction function.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said encrypted program in non-volatile memory is said program describing a tremor classification system.

6. A device comprising:

an encrypted program stored in a non-volatile memory, wherein said encrypted program in non-volatile memory is one of a program controlling an inertial movement function, a program controlling a tremor reduction function, or a program describing a tremor classification system;

a first processor obtaining a decryption key from a second processor, wherein said step of obtaining further comprises the steps of;

sending an identifier associated with said first processor to said second processor;

verifying, by said second processor, accessibility to said program for said first processor based on said identifier; and

selectively transmitting said decryption key to said first processor based on a result of said verifying step;

wherein said program is decrypted and stored in a volatile memory, said program is executed from said volatile memory, re-encrypted and restored in said non-volatile memory; and

a new decryption key for accessing said re-encrypted program.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said identifier is an Internet Protocol address.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein said encrypted program in non-volatile memory is said program controlling an inertial movement function.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein said encrypted program in non-volatile memory is said program controlling a tremor reduction function.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein said encrypted program in non-volatile memory is said program describing a tremor classification system.

11. A computer-readable medium containing instructions which, when executed on a computer, perform the steps of:

storing an encrypted program in a non-volatile memory, wherein said encrypted program in non-volatile memory is one of a program controlling an inertial movement function, a program controlling a tremor reduction function, or a program describing a tremor classification system;

obtaining, by a first processor, a decryption key from a second processor, wherein said step of obtaining further comprises the steps of;

sending an identifier associated with said first processor to said second processor;

verifying, by said second processor, accessibility to said program for said first processor based on said identifier; and

selectively transmitting said decryption key to said first processor based on a result of said verifying step;

decrypting said program and storing said decrypted program in a volatile memory;

executing said program from said volatile memory;

re-encrypting said program and re-storing said program in said non-volatile memory; and

requiring a new decryption key for accessing said re-encrypted program.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said identifier is an Internet Protocol address.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said encrypted program in non-volatile memory is said program controlling an inertial movement function.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said encrypted program in non-volatile memory is said program controlling a tremor reduction function.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein said encrypted program in non-volatile memory is said program describing a tremor classification system.