Method and apparatus for use in securing an electronic device such as a cell phone

A processor core of an electronic device comprising:

• a comparator, which operates beyond the control of run-time software running on the processor core, that receives a reference identifier from within the processor core, receives a program identifier associated with software stored in a memory of the device, and generates a first signal indicating whether the reference identifier and the program identifier have at least a specified measure of correspondence to one another;
• and
• a disable system, which operates beyond the control of run-time software running on the processor core, that receives the first signal from the comparator and generates a second signal to disable an operating characteristic of the processor core unless the first signal indicates that there is at least a specified measure of correspondence between the program identifier and the reference identifier.

An electronic device comprising:

• a memory;
• software that is stored in the memory and includes a program identifier;
• a processor core coupled to the memory through a data path, the processor core including a comparator that operates beyond the control of run-time software and receives a reference identifier from within the processor core and the program identifier, and in response thereto, generates a signal indicative of a measure of correspondence between the reference identifier and the program identifier, the processor core further including a disable system that operates beyond the control of run-time software and is responsive to the signal generated by the comparator and configured to disable an operating characteristic of the electronic device unless the signal indicates that there is at least a specified measure of correspondence between the reference identifier and the program identifier.

A cell phone for mobile communication, the cell phone having a processor that includes a processor core and a memory, the processor core being coupled to the memory through a data path, the memory being usable to store software that includes a run-time program and an identifier associated with the software, wherein the improvement comprises:

• a comparator, within the processor core, that operates beyond the control of run-time software and receives a reference identifier from within the processor core and a program identifier associated with software stored in a system memory, and generates data that signifies receipt, or lack thereof, of a reference identifier and a program identifier having at least a specified measure of correspondence to one another;
• and
• a disable system, within the processor core and responsive to the data indicative of a measure of correspondence, that operates beyond the control of run-time software and generates a signal to disable an operating characteristic of the processor core unless the data indicates that there is at least a specified measure of correspondence between the program identifier and the reference identifier.