Patents by Inventor Andrew Fergusson

Andrew Fergusson 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: 9552498
    Abstract: A system and method for encrypting data provides for retrievial of an encryption key; identification of the address in memory of a first portion of the data to be encrypted; derivation of a first unique key from the encryption key and the address of the first portion of data; encryption of the first portion of data using the first unique key; identification of the address in memory of a second portion of data to be encrypted; derivation of a second unique key from the encryption key and the address of the second portion of data; and encryption of the second portion of data using the second unique key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Herbert A. Little, Jerrold R. Randell, Richard C. Madter, Ryan J. Hickey, Andrew A. Fergusson
  • Patent number: 8571221
    Abstract: A system and method of creating and managing encryption keys in a data processing device generates subsequent encryption keys by combining the existing encryption key with an existing password and seed value. In the preferred embodiment, the initial encryption key is embedded during manufacture and is unknown to the user and manufacturer, thus ensuring that all subsequent encryption keys are derived from an unknown value. When a subsequent encryption key is generated, all data encrypted using the existing encryption key is decrypted using the existing encryption key and re-encrypted using the subsequent encryption key before the existing encryption key is overwritten. In a further aspect, during encryption/decryption the encryption key is combined with the sector address of the data to be encrypted/decrypted in order to generate a unique key for each sector of data to be encrypted/decrypted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Herbert A. Little, Jerrold R. Randell, Richard C. Madter, Ryan J. Hickey, Andrew A. Fergusson
  • Publication number: 20050232415
    Abstract: A system and method of creating and managing encryption keys in a data processing device generates subsequent encryption keys by combining the existing encryption key with an existing password and seed value. In the preferred embodiment, the initial encryption key is embedded during manufacture and is unknown to the user and manufacturer, thus ensuring that all subsequent encryption keys are derived from an unknown value. When a subsequent encryption key is generated, all data encrypted using the existing encryption key is decrypted using the existing encryption key and re-encrypted using the subsequent encryption key before the existing encryption key is overwritten. In a further aspect, during encryption/decryption the encryption key is combined with the sector address of the data to be encrypted/decrypted in order to generate a unique key for each sector of data to be encrypted/decrypted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventors: Herbert Little, Jerrold Randell, Richard Madter, Ryan Hickey, Andrew Fergusson
  • Patent number: 6915442
    Abstract: A clock signal duty cycle control circuit is provided that receives an incoming signal from a clock signal input source and generates an improved output clock signal having an accurately controlled duty cycle. The circuit controls the duty cycle of the output clock signal by comparing the incoming signal to a reference value in a comparator. The reference value is derived from a reference charge stored on a capacitor. The reference charge is built up in the capacitor using the currents from a current source and a current sink, which are controlled using translated output signals from the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: John Wynen, Richard Madter, Andrew Fergusson
  • Publication number: 20030193357
    Abstract: A clock signal duty cycle control circuit is provided that receives an incoming signal from a clock signal input source and generates an improved output clock signal having an accurately controlled duty cycle. The circuit controls the duty cycle of the output clock signal by comparing the incoming signal to a reference value in a comparator. The reference value is derived from a reference charge stored on a capacitor. The reference charge is built up in the capacitor using the currents from a current source and a current sink, which are controlled using translated output signals from the comparator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: John Wynen, Richard Madter, Andrew Fergusson
  • Patent number: 6578154
    Abstract: A clock signal duty cycle control circuit is provided that receives an incoming signal from a clock signal input source and generates an improved output clock signal having an accurately controlled duty cycle. The circuit controls the duty cycle of the output clock signal by comparing the incoming signal to a reference value in a comparator. The reference value is derived from a reference charge stored on a capacitor. The reference charge is built up in the capacitor using the currents from a current source and a current sink, which are controlled using translated output signals from the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: John Wynen, Richard Madter, Andrew Fergusson