Memory Device License Control Using Cryptographic Keys
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for managing software and firmware licenses rely on manual entry or network-based authentication, which can be compromised and require network access, making them inaccessible offline and costly to maintain.
Innovation Solution
A memory device acts as a license control using cryptographic keys and digital certificates, generating a unique identity for the device through asymmetric key pairs and physically unclonable functions, allowing secure verification without remote access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual entry of license codes is used, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to compromise risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual entry mechanisms with automated cryptographic verification. The system uses cryptographic keys stored in secure elements to automatically verify device identity and generate license codes, eliminating the need for manual typing and associated security risks while maintaining ease of use through automated processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service through automated cryptographic operations. Each device possesses its own cryptographic key pair and can independently verify its identity and generate license codes without human intervention or external assistance, improving both reliability through cryptographic security and ease of operation through automation.
2Reliability
If network-based authentication is used, then reliability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to offline inaccessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the authentication system into independent cryptographic components stored locally on each device. Instead of relying on a centralized network server, each device has its own cryptographic key pair and can perform authentication operations independently, enabling both reliable verification and offline operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cryptographic keys as intermediaries between devices and license servers. These keys enable secure, offline authentication by allowing devices to prove their identity through cryptographic signatures without requiring real-time network connection to a license server, thus bridging the gap between reliability and adaptability.
3Reliability
If network-based authentication infrastructure is used, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to server requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cryptographic verification functionality from centralized network servers and embeds it directly into individual devices through secure elements. This eliminates the need for complex server infrastructure while maintaining reliable authentication, as each device becomes self-sufficient for cryptographic operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service authentication where each device independently performs cryptographic verification using its own embedded secure element and key pair. This eliminates dependency on external server infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability through decentralized cryptographic security.
Data Source
AI summary
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system including a memory device secure storage region, the secure storage region storing a first cryptographic key and a digital certificate associated with the first cryptographic key; and a computing device, the computing device communicatively coupled to the memory device and configured to: generate a challenge value; transmit the challenge value to the memory device; receive a digital signature from the memory device; validate the digital signature using a second cryptographic key; and continue processing after validating the digital signature.