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US 2006/0242696 A1Published application
Hardware encryption key for use in anti-tamper system
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsEdwin Cruzado, William Dalzell, Brian Bernier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a system comprises application-specific functionality, anti-tamper functionality to detect an unauthorized attempt to interact with the application-specific functionality; and a hardware key interface to communicatively couple the system to a hardware key. An attempt to interact with the application-specific functionality is considered unauthorized if an authorized hardware key is not communicatively coupled to the hardware key interface when the attempt occurs.
Claims39
A system comprising:
- application-specific functionality;
- anti-tamper functionality to detect an unauthorized attempt to interact with the application-specific functionality;
- a hardware key interface to communicatively couple the system to a hardware key;
- and
- wherein an attempt to interact with the application-specific functionality is considered unauthorized if an authorized hardware key is not communicatively coupled to the hardware key interface when the attempt occurs.
2 more elements
A system comprising:
- application-specific functionality;
- anti-tamper functionality to control access to the application-specific functionality;
- a hardware key interface to communicatively couple the system to a hardware key;
- and
- wherein the system supports a plurality of modes, wherein each of the plurality of modes specifies which types of access to the application-specific functionality, if any, are permitted when the system operates in the respective mode;
- and
- wherein which of the plurality of modes that the system operates in is determined as a function of at least one of:
- whether the hardware key is communicatively coupled to the system and information received from with the hardware key.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- determining when an authorized hardware key is communicatively coupled to a system;
- determining when an attempt to access application-specific functionality included in the system occurs;
- and
- considering the attempt to be unauthorized if the authorized hardware key is not communicatively coupled to the system when the attempt occurs.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- determining when a hardware key is communicatively coupled to a system, wherein the system operates in one of a plurality modes;
- determining in which of the plurality modes to operate the system based on at least one of:
- whether the hardware key is communicatively coupled to the system and information received from the hardware key;
- and
- controlling access to application-specific functionality included in the system based on which of the plurality of nodes the system is operated in, wherein each of the plurality of modes specifies which types of access to the application-specific functionality, if any, are permitted when the system operates in the respective mode.
2 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- means for determining when an authorized hardware key is communicatively coupled to a system;
- means for determining when an attempt to access application-specific functionality included in the system occurs;
- and
- means for considering the attempt to be unauthorized if the authorized hardware key is not communicatively coupled to the system when the attempt occurs.
1 more element
Apparatus comprising:
- means for determining when a hardware key is communicatively coupled to a system, wherein a system operates in one of a plurality modes;
- means for determining which of the plurality modes to operate the system in based on at least one of:
- whether the hardware key is communicatively coupled to the system and information received from the hardware key;
- and
- means for controlling access to application-specific functionality included in the system based on which of the plurality of nodes the system is operated in, wherein each of the plurality of modes specifies which types of access to the application-specific functionality, if any, are permitted when the system operates in the respective mode.
2 more elements
A hardware key comprising:
- an interface to communicatively couple the hardware key to a system;
- wherein when the hardware key is communicatively coupled to the system, the hardware key outputs information used to determine whether a particular type access of the system is authorized.
A hardware key comprising:
- an interface to communicatively couple the hardware key to a system;
- wherein when the hardware key is communicatively coupled to the system, the hardware key outputs information used to determine which of a plurality modes in which to operate the system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.