IP Library Granted Patent US 8,479,021
Granted Patent B2
US 8,479,021 · App. 13/592,698 · Granted Jul 2, 2013

Secure island computing system and method

Inventor: Guy Fielder (Austin, TX)
Assignee: PACid Technologies, LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,479,021
App. No.
13/592,698
Granted
Jul 2, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for generating an n-bit result includes a secured containment device (SCD) receiving a request to generate the n-bit result. The request includes an n-bit generator input and a master secret identifier. The request is sent from an application executing on a host system using an input/output (I/O) interface. The SCD disables all I/O interfaces on the SCD between the host system and the SCD. After disabling all the I/O interfaces on the SCD between the host system and the SCD, the SCD provides the n-bit generator input and the master secret identifier to a secured hardware token over a second I/O interface, receives the n-bit result from the secured hardware token over the second I/O interface, enables at least the first I/O interface after the n-bit result is generated, and provides, after enabling the first I/O interface, the n-bit result to the application using the first I/O interface.

Claims (56)

1. A method for generating an n-bit result comprising:

receiving, by a secure containment device (SCD), a request to generate the n-bit result, wherein the request comprises an n-bit generator input and a master secret identifier and wherein the request is sent from an application executing on a host system using a first input/output (I/O) interface;

disabling, by the SCD, all I/O interfaces on the SCD between the host system and the SCD after receiving the request from the host system;

after disabling all the I/O interfaces on the SCD between the host system and the SCD:

providing, by the SCD, the n-bit generator input and the master secret identifier to a secured hardware token over a second I/O interface;

receiving, by the SCD, the n-bit result from the secured hardware token over the second I/O interface;

enabling, by the SCD, at least the first I/O interface after the n-bit result is generated; and

providing by the SCD, after enabling the first I/O interface, the n-bit result to the application using the first I/O interface.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after disabling all the I/O interfaces between the host system and the SCD:

obtaining, by the SCD, a token activation code by the SCD from a user, wherein the token activation code is input by the user via a user interface on the SCD;

providing, by the SCD, the token activation code to the secured hardware token, wherein the n-bit result is generated upon successful activation of the secured hardware token using the token activation code.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after disabling all the I/O interfaces between the host system and the SCD:

receiving a notification from the secured token hardware that the n-bit result has been generated,

wherein enabling the first I/O interface is initiated in response to the notification.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface on the SCD is one selected from a group consisting of a ten digit keypad, a touch screen, a QWERTY keyboard.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second I/O interface is disabled when the first I/O interface is enabled.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the n-bit result is one of a plurality of n-bit results.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving, by a secure containment device (SCD), a request to generate an n-bit result, wherein the request comprises an n-bit generator input and a master secret identifier and wherein the request is sent from an application executing on a host system using a first input/output (I/O) interface;

disabling, by the SCD, all I/O interfaces on the SCD between the host system and the SCD after receiving the request from the host system;

after disabling all the I/O interfaces on the SCD between the host system and the SCD:

providing, by the SCD, the n-bit generator input and the master secret identifier to a secured hardware token over a second I/O interface;

receiving, by the SCD, the n-bit result from the secured hardware token over the second I/O interface;

enabling, by the SCD, at least the first I/O interface after the n-bit result is generated; and

providing by the SCD, after enabling the first I/O interface, the n-bit result to the application using the first I/O interface.

8. A secure containment device (SCD), comprising:

a first input/out (I/O) interface connected to a host system;

a second I/O interface connected to a secured hardware token;

a processor;

a memory connected to the processor, comprising instructions, when executed by the processor perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving, from an application on the host system over the first I/O interface, a request to generate an n-bit result, wherein the request comprises an n-bit generator input and a master secret identifier;

disabling, by the SCD, the first I/O interface;

after disabling the first I/O interface:

providing the n-bit generator input and the master secret identifier to the secured hardware token over the second I/O interface;

receiving the n-bit result from the secured hardware token over the second I/O interface;

enabling the first I/O interface after the n-bit result is generated; and

providing, after enabling the first I/O interface, the n-bit result to the application using the first I/O interface.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first I/O interface is one selected from a group consisting of a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a wireless interface, and a wired interface.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second I/O interface is one selected from a group consisting of a USB interface, an Secure Digital (SD) card slot, a mircoSD card slot, and a miniSD card slot.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is at least one selected from a group consisting of an ARM processor and an embedded processor.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the user interface on the SCD is one selected from a group consisting of a twelve digit keypad, a touch screen, and a QWERTY keyboard.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the user interface comprises a keyboard and a display.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second I/O interface is disabled when the first I/O interface is enabled.

15. A secure containment device (SCD), comprising:

a first input/out (I/O) interface connected to a host system;

a second I/O interface connected to a secured hardware token;

an integrated circuit configured to:

receive, from an application on the host system over the first I/O interface, a request to generate an n-bit result, wherein the request comprises an n-bit generator input and a master secret identifier;

disable, by the SCD, the first I/O interface;

after disabling the first I/O interface:

provide the n-bit generator input and the master secret identifier to the secured hardware token over the second I/O interface;

receive the n-bit result from the secured hardware token over the second I/O interface;

enable the first I/O interface after the n-bit result is generated; and

provide, after enabling the first I/O interface, the n-bit result to the application using the first I/O interface.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2012
From: FIELDER, GUY
To: PACID TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 028870/0433 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61540878 · Sep 29, 2011
Related Publication 20130086691A1 · Apr 4, 2013