Patents by Inventor Eric Balard

Eric Balard 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: 8122244
    Abstract: A computing platform (10) protects system firmware (30) using a manufacturer certificate (36). The manufacturer certificate binds the system firmware (30) to the particular computing platform (10). The manufacturer certificate also stores configuration parameters and device identification numbers. A secure run-time platform data checker (200) and a secure run-time checker (202) check the system firmware during operation of the computing platform (10) to ensure that the system firmware (30) or information in the manufacturer certificate (36) has not been altered. Application software files (32) and data files (34) are bound to the particular computing device (10) by a platform certificate (38). Configuration parameters may be stored in a data file (34) with an associated platform certificate (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jerome Azema, Alain Chateau, Eric Balard
  • Patent number: 7539868
    Abstract: A computing platform (10) protects system firmware (30) using a manufacturer certificate (36). The manufacturer certificate binds the system firmware (30) to the particular computing platform (10). The manufacturer certificate may also store configuration parameters and device identification numbers. A secure run-time platform data checker (200) and a secure run-time checker (202) check the system firmware during operation of the computing platform (10) to ensure that the system firmware (30) or information in the manufacturer certificate (36) has not been altered. Application software files (32) and data files (34) are bound to the particular computing device (10) by a platform certificate (38). A key generator may be used to generate a random key and an encrypted key may be generated by encrypting the random key using a secret identification number associated with the particular computing platform (10). Only the encrypted key is stored in the platform certificate (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Eric Balard, Alain Chateau, Jerome Azema
  • Publication number: 20040025027
    Abstract: A computing platform (10) protects system firmware (30) using a manufacturer certificate (36). The manufacturer certificate binds the system firmware (30) to the particular computing platform (10). A secure run-time platform data checker (200) and a secure run-time checker (202) check the system firmware during operation of the computing platform (10) to ensure that the system firmware (30) or information in the manufacturer certificate (36) has not been altered. Application software files (32) and data files (34) are bound to the particular computing device (10) by a platform certificate (38). Access to certain configurations of the device, such as access to a test configuration is initiated by entering a password. The password is encrypted through a hashing process to reduce its size and compared to an access code that has been hashed and stored on the computing platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Eric Balard, Alain Chateau
  • Publication number: 20040025011
    Abstract: A computing platform (10) protects system firmware (30) using a manufacturer certificate (36). The manufacturer certificate binds the system firmware (30) to the particular computing platform (10). The manufacturer certificate also stores configuration parameters and device identification numbers. A secure run-time platform data checker (200) and a secure run-time checker (202) check the system firmware during operation of the computing platform (10) to ensure that the system firmware (30) or information in the manufacturer certificate (36) has not been altered. Application software files (32) and data files (34) are bound to the particular computing device (10) by a platform certificate (38). Configuration parameters may be stored in a data file (34) with an associated platform certificate (38).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Jerome Azema, Alain Chateau, Eric Balard
  • Publication number: 20040025010
    Abstract: A computing platform (10) protects system firmware (30) using a manufacturer certificate (36). The manufacturer certificate binds the system firmware (30) to the particular computing platform (10). The manufacturer certificate may also store configuration parameters and device identification numbers. A secure run-time platform data checker (200) and a secure run-time checker (202) check the system firmware during operation of the computing platform (10) to ensure that the system firmware (30) or information in the manufacturer certificate (36) has not been altered. Application software files (32) and data files (34) are bound to the particular computing device (10) by a platform certificate (38). A key generator may be used to generate a random key and an encrypted key may be generated by encrypting the random key using a secret identification number associated with the particular computing platform (10). Only the encrypted key is stored in the platform certificate (36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jerome Azema, Eric Balard, Alain Chateau, Erdal Paksoy, Maxime Leclercq
  • Publication number: 20040025036
    Abstract: A computing platform (10) protects system firmware (30) using a manufacturer certificate (36). The manufacturer certificate binds the system firmware (30) to the particular computing platform (10). The manufacturer certificate may also store configuration parameters and device identification numbers. A secure run-time platform data checker (200) and a secure run-time checker (202) check the system firmware during operation of the computing platform (10) to ensure that the system firmware (30) or information in the manufacturer certificate (36) has not been altered. Application software files (32) and data files (34) are bound to the particular computing device (10) by a platform certificate (38). A key generator may be used to generate a random key and an encrypted key may be generated by encrypting the random key using a secret identification number associated with the particular computing platform (10). Only the encrypted key is stored in the platform certificate (36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Eric Balard, Alain Chateau, Jerome Azema
  • Patent number: 6396426
    Abstract: This invention describes a real-time failure detection system for the inputs of an analog-to-digital converter. A novel mechanism is proposed that provides recognition of an ADC input pin failure through the digital result obtained. The device includes a specific hardware architecture which can be added to any ADC core. This is especially useful in safety applications (where FMEA is a main concern), as it greatly increases the reliability of the analog data measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Eric Balard, Jacques Sonzogni