Hardware Authentication Module for Digital Device Copy Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The rise of digital electronic devices has led to issues such as identity theft and unauthorized copying, which are difficult to prevent and enforce due to legal complexities and costs, necessitating a method to protect these devices from unauthorized copying.
Innovation Solution
A copy protection system using an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) with an authentication module that employs private keys and processing methods embedded in the hardware, making it difficult to reverse-engineer and copy the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If legal remedies are used to pursue entities creating unauthorized copies, then intellectual property rights can be enforced, but the process becomes expensive and difficult due to court costs, legal fees, and enforcement challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds authentication modules and private keys directly into the hardware during manufacturing, performing the protection action beforehand rather than relying on post-hoc legal enforcement. This preliminary hardware-level authentication prevents unauthorized copying before it can occur, eliminating the need for expensive legal remedies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/legal system of copyright enforcement with an electronic/hardware-based authentication system. Instead of using legal frameworks to protect intellectual property, the invention uses embedded cryptographic keys and authentication circuits that automatically prevent unauthorized copying at the hardware level.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional copy protection methods are used, then some level of protection is provided, but determined entities can still reverse-engineer and create unauthorized copies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds authentication modules within the integrated circuit itself, creating a nested structure where cryptographic keys and authentication logic are contained within the hardware fabric. This nesting makes reverse-engineering extremely difficult as the protection mechanisms are integrated at multiple levels within the device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses cryptographic parameters (private keys, authentication algorithms) that are embedded in the hardware and changed for each device instance. These parameter changes ensure that even if one device is reverse-engineered, the cryptographic protection remains effective for other devices with different embedded keys.
3Ease of operation
If authentication information is stored in easily accessible locations, then verification is simple and fast, but the device becomes vulnerable to reverse-engineering and copying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the authentication keys and cryptographic functions from accessible software locations and places them exclusively within the protected hardware circuit. This extraction ensures that authentication information cannot be easily accessed or copied, while the hardware provides the necessary speed and reliability for verification.
Data Source
AI summary
A device and a method of authenticating an electronic device are described. The method may comprise transmitting a token value and a parameter value to the electronic device and selecting a private key within the electronic device using the parameter value. The token value may be processed with a method selected by the parameter value to generate a processed token. The processed token may be compared with an expected processed token and the electronic device may be authenticated if the processed token compares favorably with said expected processed token.