Patents by Inventor Jacques Fortier

Jacques Fortier has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11822664
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to securing computing devices during boot. In various embodiments, a secure circuit of a computing device generates for a public key pair and signs, using a private key of the public key pair, configuration settings for an operating system of the computing device. A bootloader of the computing device receives a certificate for the public key pair from a certificate authority and initiates a boot sequence to load the operating system. The boot sequence includes the bootloader verifying the signed configuration settings using a public key included in the certificate and the public key pair. In some embodiments, the secure circuit cryptographically protects the private key based on a passcode of a user, the passcode being usable by the user to authenticate to the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Xeno S. Kovah, Nikolaj Schlej, Thomas P. Mensch, Wade Benson, Jerrold V. Hauck, Josh P. de Cesare, Austin G. Jennings, John J. Dong, Robert C. Graham, Jacques Fortier
  • Patent number: 11748468
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein enable the interoperability between processes configured for pointer authentication and processes that are not configured for pointer authentication. Enabling the interoperability between such processes enables essential libraries, such as system libraries, to be compiled with pointer authentication, while enabling those libraries to still be used by processes that have not yet been compiled or configured to use pointer authentication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard J. Semeria, Devon S. Andrade, Jeremy C. Andrus, Ahmed Bougacha, Peter Cooper, Jacques Fortier, Louis G. Gerbarg, James H. Grosbach, Robert J. McCall, Daniel A. Steffen, Justin R. Unger
  • Patent number: 11709675
    Abstract: In an embodiment, dynamically-generated code may be supported in the system by ensuring that the code either remains executing within a predefined region of memory or exits to one of a set of valid exit addresses. Software embodiments are described in which the dynamically-generated code is scanned prior to permitting execution of the dynamically-generated code to ensure that various criteria are met including exclusion of certain disallowed instructions and control of branch target addresses. Hardware embodiments are described in which the dynamically-generated code is permitted to executed but is monitored to ensure that the execution criteria are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Filip J. Pizlo, Michael L. Saboff, Bernard J. Semeria, Jacques Fortier, Ivan Krstić, Yusuke Suzuki, Saam J. Barati, Yin Zin Mark Lam
  • Publication number: 20220138313
    Abstract: In an embodiment, dynamically-generated code may be supported in the system by ensuring that the code either remains executing within a predefined region of memory or exits to one of a set of valid exit addresses. Software embodiments are described in which the dynamically-generated code is scanned prior to permitting execution of the dynamically-generated code to ensure that various criteria are met including exclusion of certain disallowed instructions and control of branch target addresses. Hardware embodiments are described in which the dynamically-generated code is permitted to executed but is monitored to ensure that the execution criteria are met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Filip J. Pizlo, Michael L. Saboff, Bernard J. Semeria, Jacques Fortier, Ivan Krstic, Yusuke Suzuki, Saam J. Barati, Yin Zin Mark Lam
  • Publication number: 20220027452
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein enable the interoperability between processes configured for pointer authentication and processes that are not configured for pointer authentication. Enabling the interoperability between such processes enables essential libraries, such as system libraries, to be compiled with pointer authentication, while enabling those libraries to still be used by processes that have not yet been compiled or configured to use pointer authentication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard J. Semeria, Devon S. Andrade, Jeremy C. Andrus, Ahmed Bougacha, Peter Cooper, Jacques Fortier, Louis G. Gerbarg, James H. Grosbach, Robert J. McCall, Daniel A. Steffen, Justin R. Unger
  • Publication number: 20210397716
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to securing computing devices during boot. In various embodiments, a secure circuit of a computing device generates for a public key pair and signs, using a private key of the public key pair, configuration settings for an operating system of the computing device. A bootloader of the computing device receives a certificate for the public key pair from a certificate authority and initiates a boot sequence to load the operating system. The boot sequence includes the bootloader verifying the signed configuration settings using a public key included in the certificate and the public key pair. In some embodiments, the secure circuit cryptographically protects the private key based on a passcode of a user, the passcode being usable by the user to authenticate to the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Xeno S. Kovah, Nikolaj Schlej, Thomas P. Mensch, Wade Benson, Jerrold V. Hauck, Josh P. de Cesare, Austin G. Jennings, John J. Dong, Robert C. Graham, Jacques Fortier
  • Patent number: 11188477
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a computer system comprises a page protection layer. The page protection layer may be the component in the system which manages the page tables for virtual to physical page mappings. Transactions to the page protection layer are used to create/manage mappings created in the page tables. The page protection layer may enforce dynamic security policies in the system (i.e. security policies that may not be enforced using only a static hardware configuration). In an embodiment, the page protection layer may ensure that it is the only component which is able to modify the page tables. The page protection layer may ensure than no component in the system is able to modify a page that is marked executable in any process' address space. The page protection may ensure that any page that is marked executable has code with a verified code signature, in an embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Julien Oster, Thomas G. Holland, Bernard J. Semeria, Jason A. Harmening, Pierre-Olivier J. Martel, Gregory D. Hughes, P. Love Hornquist Astrand, Jacques Fortier, Ryan P. Nielson, Simon P. Cooper
  • Patent number: 11144631
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein enable the interoperability between processes configured for pointer authentication and processes that are not configured for pointer authentication. Enabling the interoperability between such processes enables essential libraries, such as system libraries, to be compiled with pointer authentication, while enabling those libraries to still be used by processes that have not yet been compiled or configured to use pointer authentication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard J. Semeria, Devon S. Andrade, Jeremy C. Andrus, Ahmed Bougacha, Peter Cooper, Jacques Fortier, Louis G. Gerbarg, James H. Grosbach, Robert J. McCall, Daniel A. Steffen, Justin R. Unger
  • Patent number: 11093601
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein enable the interoperability between processes configured for pointer authentication and processes that are not configured for pointer authentication. Enabling the interoperability between such processes enables essential libraries, such as system libraries, to be compiled with pointer authentication, while enabling those libraries to still be used by processes that have not yet been compiled or configured to use pointer authentication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard J. Semeria, Devon S. Andrade, Jeremy C. Andrus, Ahmed Bougacha, Peter Cooper, Jacques Fortier, Louis G. Gerbarg, James H. Grosbach, Robert J. McCall, Daniel A. Steffen, Justin R. Unger
  • Patent number: 10891369
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein enable the interoperability between processes configured for pointer authentication and processes that are not configured for pointer authentication. Enabling the interoperability between such processes enables essential libraries, such as system libraries, to be compiled with pointer authentication, while enabling those libraries to still be used by processes that have not yet been compiled or configured to use pointer authentication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard J. Semeria, Devon S. Andrade, Jeremy C. Andrus, Ahmed Bougacha, Peter Cooper, Jacques Fortier, Louis G. Gerbarg, James H. Grosbach, Robert J. McCall, Daniel A. Steffen, Justin R. Unger
  • Patent number: 10750427
    Abstract: A repeater system for relaying wireless communications between a base station and one or more devices having: a repeater to relay network information from a base station to one or more devices; a donor antenna configured to receive and/or transmit network information between the repeater and the base station; a power supply external to the repeater; and, a server antenna integrated with the power supply, the server antenna configured to receive and/or transmit network information between the repeater and the one or more devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: NEXTIVITY, INC.
    Inventors: Michiel Petrus Lotter, Jason Foster Cook, Richard Jacques Fortier, In Kwang Kim, Ian Riphagen, James Xiaohui Qiu
  • Publication number: 20200082070
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein enable the interoperability between processes configured for pointer authentication and processes that are not configured for pointer authentication. Enabling the interoperability between such processes enables essential libraries, such as system libraries, to be compiled with pointer authentication, while enabling those libraries to still be used by processes that have not yet been compiled or configured to use pointer authentication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Bernard J. Semeria, Devon S. Andrade, Jeremy C. Andrus, Ahmed Bougacha, Peter Cooper, Jacques Fortier, Louis G. Gerbarg, James H. Grosbach, Robert J. McCall, Daniel A. Steffen, Justin R. Unger
  • Publication number: 20200082069
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein enable the interoperability between processes configured for pointer authentication and processes that are not configured for pointer authentication. Enabling the interoperability between such processes enables essential libraries, such as system libraries, to be compiled with pointer authentication, while enabling those libraries to still be used by processes that have not yet been compiled or configured to use pointer authentication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Bernard J. Semeria, Devon S. Andrade, Jeremy C. Andrus, Ahmed Bougacha, Peter Cooper, Jacques Fortier, Louis G. Gerbarg, James H. Grosbach, Robert J. McCall, Daniel A. Steffen, Justin R. Unger
  • Publication number: 20200081847
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a computer system comprises a page protection layer. The page protection layer may be the component in the system which manages the page tables for virtual to physical page mappings. Transactions to the page protection layer are used to create/manage mappings created in the page tables. The page protection layer may enforce dynamic security policies in the system (i.e. security policies that may not be enforced using only a static hardware configuration). In an embodiment, the page protection layer may ensure that it is the only component which is able to modify the page tables. The page protection layer may ensure than no component in the system is able to modify a page that is marked executable in any process' address space. The page protection may ensure that any page that is marked executable has code with a verified code signature, in an embodiment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Julien Oster, Thomas G. Holland, Bernard J. Semeria, Jason A. Harmening, Pierre-Olivier J. Martel, Gregory D. Hughes, P. Love Hornquist Astrand, Jacques Fortier, Ryan P. Nielson, Simon P. Cooper
  • Publication number: 20200082066
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein enable the interoperability between processes configured for pointer authentication and processes that are not configured for pointer authentication. Enabling the interoperability between such processes enables essential libraries, such as system libraries, to be compiled with pointer authentication, while enabling those libraries to still be used by processes that have not yet been compiled or configured to use pointer authentication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Bernard J. Semeria, Devon S. Andrade, Jeremy C. Andrus, Ahmed Bougacha, Peter Cooper, Jacques Fortier, Louis G. Gerbarg, James H. Grosbach, Robert J. McCall, Daniel A. Steffen, Justin R. Unger
  • Publication number: 20160295495
    Abstract: A repeater system for relaying wireless communications between a base station and one or more devices having: a repeater to relay network information from a base station to one or more devices; a donor antenna configured to receive and/or transmit network information between the repeater and the base station; a power supply external to the repeater; and, a server antenna integrated with the power supply, the server antenna configured to receive and/or transmit network information between the repeater and the one or more devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Michiel Petrus Lotter, Jason Foster Cook, Richard Jacques Fortier, In Kwang Kim, Ian Riphagen, James Xiaohui Qiu
  • Publication number: 20160234043
    Abstract: Systems and methods of mitigating precursor ISIs for communication channels having time-variant precursor channel responses using digital circuit designs. A phase adaptation circuit is utilized in a receiver and configured to generate a phase control signal responsive to an input signal and based on the current precursor channel response. The phase control signal controls the phase shift of a recovered clock to a position where the precursor ISI at h(?1) is minimized. The phase control signal corresponds to a “feed-forward equalization (FFE) first tap weight” obtained via a digital least-mean-square (LMS) process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Yehuda AZENKOT, Guy Jacque FORTIER
  • Patent number: 9397867
    Abstract: Systems and methods of mitigating precursor ISIs for communication channels having time-variant precursor channel responses using digital circuit designs. A phase adaptation circuit is utilized in a receiver and configured to generate a phase control signal responsive to an input signal and based on the current precursor channel response. The phase control signal controls the phase shift of a recovered clock to a position where the precursor ISI at h(?1) is minimized. The phase control signal corresponds to a “feed-forward equalization (FFE) first tap weight” obtained via a digital least-mean-square (LMS) process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Applied Micro Circuits Corporation
    Inventors: Yehuda Azenkot, Guy Jacque Fortier
  • Patent number: 9348971
    Abstract: A system and method for two way short message service (SMS)-enabled BGM and related communications is presented. The method includes receiving, by a processing device integrated with a blood glucose meter (BGM), a first short message service (SMS) message comprising a question, presenting the question at the BGM, receiving a response to the question, translating the response to the question into a second SMS message, translating blood glucose measurement information into a third SMS message, the blood glucose measurement information received from a test of a user by the BGM, and transmitting the second and third SMS messages to a receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: ERP SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Robert Nawy, Daniel W. Havens, Richard Jacques Fortier
  • Patent number: 8126663
    Abstract: An electronic signal level detection system and method are provided. The method receives an analog input signal having a variable voltage and compares the input signal voltage to a threshold. A detection signal is generated for input signal voltages exceeding the threshold in a periodic first time frame. In a second periodic time frame (following the first time frame), a count is updated in response to the generated detection signals. The count is used to create a metric representative of the difference between the input signal voltage and the threshold. The count is incremented in response to the generating a detection signal (“1”) in the first time frame, and decremented in response to not generating a detection signal (“0”) in the first time frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Micro Circuits Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Douglas Brown, Sheldon James Hood, Guy Jacque Fortier, Stan Harry Blakey