US 2001/0034840 A1Published application

System for protecting software

AssigneeSchlumberger Systemes

InventorsJerome Sion, Stephanie Lion

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Abstract

A system for protecting software that can be executed on a computer machine, the system being of the type in which the software is associated with a memory card for insertion in a reader connected to the computer machine. The software stores a public key, and periodically generates a pseudo-random number. A first algorithm is implemented by using the public key on information received from the reader. The result of implementing the first algorithm is compared with the pseudo-random number. Execution of the software is interrupted in response to such comparison. The card has protected storage means for storing an associated private key and means for implementing a second algorithm using the private key upon receiving information issued by the computer machine, thereby obtaining encoded information. The encoded information is transmitted from the card to the computer machine.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A system for protecting software executable on a computer machine, the system being of the type in which said software is associated with a memory card for insertion in a read/write device coupled to said computer machine, wherein:

said software comprises:
means for storing a public key;
means for periodically generating a pseudo-random number and for transmitting said pseudo-random number to said read/write device;
means for implementing a first algorithm using said public key on receiving information from the read/write device;
comparator means for comparing the result of implementing said first algorithm with said pseudo-random number;
and
means for interrupting the execution of said software in response to said comparison;
and wherein said card comprises:
protected memory means for storing an associated private key;
means for implementing a second algorithm associated with said first algorithm and using said private key on receiving information issued by said computer machine, thereby obtaining encoded information;
and
means for transmitting said encoded information to said computer machine.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/739,308Filed 18 Dec 2000
Priority: FR 98/0762917 Jun 1998
Published: 25 Oct 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G07F 7/1008
Together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric…
G06F 21/123
Restricting unauthorised execution of programs: by using dedicated hardware, e.g. dongles, smart cards, cryptographic processors, global…
G06Q 20/341
Using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards: active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including…
G06Q 20/346
Using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards: cards serving only as information carrier of service