Method and apparatus for authenticating components

A device comprising:

• a component coupler for electrically and physically coupling a component to the device;
• a memory for storing at least one predetermined challenge and at least one associated predetermined response generated in response to the at least one predetermined challenge and secret information, the secret information generated through layering a plurality of seeds through a predetermined function;
• a clock for generating a clock signal;
• a controller coupled to the component coupler and the memory for detecting whether the component has been coupled to the device, and, if the component has been detected, providing one of the at least one predetermined challenge to the component, the controller further coupled to the component coupler and the clock for determining in response to the clock signal whether a component response has been received from the component within a predetermined response time, wherein the controller further compares the component response to the at least one associated predetermined response if the component response is received within the predetermined response time, and wherein the controller generates a device disabling signal in response to one of the component response not being received within the predetermined response time and the component response not being equivalent to the at least one associated predetermined response;
• and
• a device disabler coupled to the controller for disabling the device in response to the device disabling signal.

A component for physically and electrically coupling to a device, the component comprising:

• a challenge receiver for coupling to the device and receiving one of a plurality of predetermined challenges from the device;
• a component memory for storing secret information therein, the secret information being generated by layering a plurality of seeds through a predetermined function;
• a component response generator coupled to the challenge receiver and the component memory for generating a component response by processing one of the plurality of predetermined challenges and the secret information through a one-way cryptographic function;
• and
• a response provider for coupling to the device and providing the component response thereto.

A portable electronic device comprising:

• a battery coupler for electrically and physically coupling a battery to the device;
• a nonvolatile memory for storing a plurality of predetermined challenges and a plurality of associated predetermined responses, and at least one of the plurality of associated predetermined responses generated in response to one of the plurality of predetermined challenges and secret information, the secret information generated through layering a plurality of seeds through a predetermined function;
• a clock for generating a clock signal;
• a controller coupled to the battery coupler and the nonvolatile memory for detecting whether the battery has been coupled to the device, and, if the battery has been detected, providing one of the plurality of predetermined challenges to the battery, the controller further coupled to the battery coupler and the clock for determining in response to the clock signal whether a component response has been received from the battery within a predetermined response time, wherein the controller further compares the component response to the plurality of associated predetermined responses if the component response is received within the predetermined response time, and wherein the controller generates a device disabling signal in response to one of the component response not being received within the predetermined response time and the component response not being equivalent to at least one of the plurality of associated predetermined responses;
• and
• a device disabler coupled to the controller for disabling the portable electronic device in response to the device disabling signal.