IP Library Granted Patent US 12,380,231
Granted Patent B2
US 12,380,231 · App. 17/940,214 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Method of processing secure data and electronic device supporting the same

Inventors: Jinhyoung Kim (Gyeonggi-do, KR); Sunjune Kong (Gyeonggi-do, KR); Bumhan Kim (Gyeonggi-do, KR); Taehoon Kim (Gyeonggi-do, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronic Co., Ltd
G06F21/604G06F21/31G06F21/62H04L9/3213
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,380,231
App. No.
17/940,214
Granted
Aug 5, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to certain embodiments, an electronic device comprises: a memory storing an interface and an application; a processor; and a secure module physically separated from the processor and including a secure processor and a secure memory, wherein the processor is configured to: obtain user authentication information, through the interface; attempt user authentication, based on the user authentication information; obtain data stored in the secure memory when the user authentication succeeds; store a first token including a first valid duration for an access to the secure memory, the obtained data, and a first key value for decoding the obtained data in a buffer; and delete the first token and the first key value from the buffer when the first valid duration expires.

Claims (70)

1. An electronic device comprising:

a memory storing instructions;

a processor; and

a secure module physically separated from the processor and including a secure processor and a secure memory,

wherein the execution of the instructions by the processor causes the electronic device to:

obtain user authentication information, through an interface of a user authentication framework operating in a first execution environment, wherein the first execution environment is provided by the processor;

based on the user authentication information, attempt user authentication, through a trusted application operating in a second execution environment, wherein the second execution environment is provided by the processor;

when the user authentication succeeds, obtain data from the secure memory through a secure application operating in a third execution environment based on a request sent from the trusted application to the secure application, wherein the third execution environment is provided by the secure processor;

encrypt the obtained data from the secure memory according to a first key value;

store a first token including a first valid duration for an access to the secure memory, the encrypted obtained data, and the first key value for decrypting the encrypted data in a buffer included in the second execution environment; and

delete the first token and the first key value from the buffer when the first valid duration expires,

wherein a first secure level of the second execution environment is higher than a normal secure level of the first execution environment and lower than a second level of the third execution environment.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:

verify whether the first token is present in the buffer, upon receiving the request for the data stored in the secure memory from the trusted application; and

send a signal declining the request for the data to the trusted application when the buffer does not store the first token.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to:

verify the first valid duration included in the first token when the first token is present in the buffer;

decrypt the encrypted obtained data stored in the buffer by using the first key value, when the first valid duration is verified; and

transfer the decrypted data to the trusted application.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:

after the first token and the first key value are deleted from the buffer, obtain user authentication information through the interface;

attempt user authentication, based on the obtained user authentication information; and

store a second token including a second valid duration for an access to the secure memory and a second key value for decrypting the encrypted obtained data in the buffer, when the attempted user authentication succeeds.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:

verify whether the first token is present in the buffer upon receiving a signal requesting to write data to the secure memory from the trusted application; and

send a signal declining writing the data to the trusted application, when the first token is absent in the buffer.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to:

verify the first valid duration included in the first token, when the first token is present in the buffer;

store the data in the buffer, when the first valid duration is verified; and

write the data stored in the buffer to the secure memory.

7. An electronic device comprising:

a memory storing an application;

a processor; and

a secure module physically separated from the processor and including a secure memory and a secure processor,

wherein the processor is configured to:

receive a signal requesting data stored in the secure memory;

attempt user authentication, in response to receiving of the signal in a first execution environment provided by the processor;

based on user authentication information. attempt user authentication through a trusted application operating in a second execution environment provided by the processor;

when the user authentication succeeds, verify a valid duration for an access to the secure memory and obtain data from the secure memory through a secure application operating in a third execution environment based on a request sent from the trusted application to the secure application. wherein the third execution environment is provided by the secure processor;

send a signal declining a request for the data to the processor when the valid duration is not verified; and

send the data stored in a buffer when the valid duration is verified, wherein the data stored in the buffer is encrypted and sending the data comprises decrypting the data,

wherein a first secure level of the second execution environment is higher than a normal secure level of the first execution environment and lower than a second level of the third execution environment.

8. A method of processing secure data of an electronic device, the method comprising:

obtaining user authentication information, through an interface of a user authentication framework operating in a first execution environment, wherein the first execution environment is provided by a processor;

based on the user authentication information, attempt user authentication, through a trusted application operating in a second execution environment, wherein the second execution environment is provided by the processor;

when the user authentication succeeds, obtaining the secure data from a secure memory included in a secure module physically separated from a processor of the electronic device, through a secure application operating in a third execution environment based on a request sent from the trusted application to the secure application, wherein the third execution environment is provided by a secure processor;

encrypting the secure data obtained form the secure memory according to a first key value;

storing a first token including a first valid duration for an access to the secure memory, the encrypted secure data, and the first key value for decrypting the encrypted secure data in a buffer included in the second execution environment; and

deleting the first token and the first key value from the buffer when the first valid duration expires,

wherein a first secure level of the second execution environment is higher than a normal secure level of the first execution environment and lower than a second level of the third execution environment.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

verifying whether the first token is present in the buffer, upon receiving a signal requesting the secure data from an application; and

sending a signal declining the request for the secure data to the application when the first token is absent in the buffer.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

verifying the first valid duration included in the first token when the first token is present in the buffer;

decrypting the secure data stored in the buffer by using the first key value, when the first valid duration is verified; and

transferring the decrypted secure data to the application.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

after the first token and the first key value are deleted from the buffer, obtaining user authentication information;

attempting user authentication, based on the obtained user authentication information; and

storing a second token including a second valid duration for an access to the secure memory and a second key value for decrypting the secure data in the buffer, when the user authentication succeeds.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

verifying whether the first token is present in the buffer upon receiving from an application a signal requesting to write data in the secure memory; and

sending to the application a signal declining to write the data, when the first token is absent in the buffer.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

verifying the first valid duration included in the first token, when the first token is present in the buffer;

writing the data in the buffer, when the first valid duration is verified; and

writing the data stored in the buffer to the secure memory.

14. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the secure application is at least one of a user authentication application and an access control application.

15. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the trusted application processes the obtained data from the secure application.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 8, 2022
From: KIM, JINHYOUNG; KONG, SUNJUNE; KIM, BUMHAN; KIM, TAEHOON
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 061023/0635 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2020-0186491 · Dec 29, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTKR2021020162 · Dec 29, 2021
Related Publication 20230004660A1 · Jan 5, 2023
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