Patents by Inventor John David Mersh
John David Mersh 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).
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Patent number: 11068275Abstract: A data processing apparatus formed on an integrated circuit comprising: a plurality of processors; power control circuitry configured to control power up and power down of the processors; a read only memory for storing boot up software for booting up each of the processors. The power control circuitry is configured to respond to receipt of a check state request, to control one of the processors that is currently powered down to power up and to access the boot up software. The boot up software accessed in response to the check state request controls the processor to perform a measurement indicative of a current state of the data processing apparatus and to output a value indicative of the measurement.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2020Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: ARM LimitedInventor: John David Mersh
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Publication number: 20200150973Abstract: A data processing apparatus formed on an integrated circuit comprising: a plurality of processors; power control circuitry configured to control power up and power down of the processors; a read only memory for storing boot up software for booting up each of the processors. The power control circuitry is configured to respond to receipt of a check state request, to control one of the processors that is currently powered down to power up and to access the boot up software. The boot up software accessed in response to the check state request controls the processor to perform a measurement indicative of a current state of the data processing apparatus and to output a value indicative of the measurement.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2020Publication date: May 14, 2020Inventor: John David MERSH
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Patent number: 10650168Abstract: A data processing device with a processor, a memory and an access control mechanism, the device having secure and non-secure modes, the memory having secure and non-secure regions, the secure region containing cryptographic data, and the access control mechanism preventing the processor from reading the cryptographic data when the device is operating in the non-secure mode. Also, methods of manufacturing and authenticating such a device, manufacturing an item of electronic equipment that includes such a device, a computer program for storing data on such a device, secure data processing hardware including such a computer program and a method of updating data stored in an item of electronic equipment including such a data processing device.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2016Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Secure Thingz LimitedInventor: John David Mersh
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Patent number: 10564981Abstract: A data processing apparatus formed on an integrated circuit comprising: a plurality of processors; power control circuitry configured to control power up and power down of the processors; a read only memory for storing boot up software for booting up each of the processors. The power control circuitry is configured to respond to receipt of a check state request, to control one of the processors that is currently powered down to power up and to access the boot up software. The boot up software accessed in response to the check state request controls the processor to perform a measurement indicative of a current state of the data processing apparatus and to output a value indicative of the measurement.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: ARM LimitedInventor: John David Mersh
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Publication number: 20180314530Abstract: A data processing apparatus formed on an integrated circuit comprising: a plurality of processors; power control circuitry configured to control power up and power down of the processors; a read only memory for storing boot up software for booting up each of the processors. The power control circuitry is configured to respond to receipt of a check state request, to control one of the processors that is currently powered down to power up and to access the boot up software. The boot up software accessed in response to the check state request controls the processor to perform a measurement indicative of a current state of the data processing apparatus and to output a value indicative of the measurement.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2017Publication date: November 1, 2018Inventor: John David MERSH
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Publication number: 20180285602Abstract: A data processing device with a processor, a memory and an access control mechanism, the device having secure and non-secure modes, the memory having secure and non-secure regions, the secure region containing cryptographic data, and the access control mechanism preventing the processor from reading the cryptographic data when the device is operating in the non-secure mode. Also, methods of manufacturing and authenticating such a device, manufacturing an item of electronic equipment that includes such a device, a computer program for storing data on such a device, secure data processing hardware including such a computer program and a method of updating data stored in an item of electronic equipment including such a data processing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2016Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventor: John David Mersh
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Publication number: 20180113715Abstract: A data processing apparatus formed on an integrated circuit comprising: a plurality of processors; power control circuitry configured to control power up and power down of the processors; a read only memory for storing boot up software for booting up each of the processors. The power control circuitry is configured to respond to receipt of a check state request, to control one of the processors that is currently powered down to power up and to access the boot up software. The boot up software accessed in response to the check state request controls the processor to perform a measurement indicative of a current state of the data processing apparatus and to output a value indicative of the measurement.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventor: John David MERSH
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Patent number: 9875112Abstract: A data processing apparatus formed on an integrated circuit comprising: a plurality of processors; power control circuitry configured to control power up and power down of the processors; a read only memory for storing boot up software for booting up each of the processors. The power control circuitry is configured to respond to receipt of a check state request, to control one of the processors that is currently powered down to power up and to access the boot up software. The boot up software accessed in response to the check state request controls the processor to perform a measurement indicative of a current state of the data processing apparatus and to output a value indicative of the measurement.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2016Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: ARM LimitedInventor: John David Mersh
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Publication number: 20160154655Abstract: A data processing apparatus formed on an integrated circuit comprising: a plurality of processors; power control circuitry configured to control power up and power down of the processors; a read only memory for storing boot up software for booting up each of the processors. The power control circuitry is configured to respond to receipt of a check state request, to control one of the processors that is currently powered down to power up and to access the boot up software. The boot up software accessed in response to the check state request controls the processor to perform a measurement indicative of a current state of the data processing apparatus and to output a value indicative of the measurement.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2016Publication date: June 2, 2016Inventor: John David MERSH
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Publication number: 20160098555Abstract: Program code attestation circuitry and a method of operating such circuitry are provided. The program code attestation circuitry includes first storage, and measurement value generation circuitry that is arranged to store within that first storage a measurement value that is determined by applying a first hash algorithm to input data determined from a code block of the program code. Within a second storage a private key is stored. Further, signature generator circuitry is responsive to an attestation request from a request source external to the program code attestation circuitry to apply, to a derived value derived from the measurement value, a signature algorithm using the private key, in order to generate a signature for output to the request source. From this signature, the request source can then derive information about the stored measurement value sufficient to enable it to ascertain whether that stored measurement value agrees with an expected measurement value for the code block in question.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2014Publication date: April 7, 2016Inventors: John David MERSH, Stuart David BILES
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Patent number: 9268942Abstract: A data processing apparatus formed on an integrated circuit comprising: a plurality of processors; power control circuitry configured to control power up and power down of the processors; a read only memory for storing boot up software for booting up each of the processors. The power control circuitry is configured to respond to receipt of a check state request, to control one of the processors that is currently powered down to power up and to access the boot up software. The boot up software accessed in response to the check state request controls the processor to perform a measurement indicative of a current state of the data processing apparatus and to output a value indicative of the measurement.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2013Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: ARM LimitedInventor: John David Mersh
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Patent number: 8935681Abstract: A method comprising encrypting an original plain text file and making it available to a user as a protected file, and issuing to said user a user program and a user license to enable said user to decrypt the protected file and view an image of the original file while preventing the image of the original file from being copied to any file, other than as a further protected file. The image is preferably stored in a memory not backed up to the computer swap file. Preferably, the user program comprises an editor program and the user saves editorial changes to the original image in an encrypted difference file, separate from the original file. Both files are then used to re-create the edited image using the editor program and user license. The user program may comprise any computer tool including compilers.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2005Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignees: MStar Semiconductor, Inc., MStar Software R&D (Shenzhen) Ltd., MStar France SAS, MStar Semiconductor, Inc.Inventor: John David Mersh
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Publication number: 20140372738Abstract: A data processing apparatus formed on an integrated circuit comprising: a plurality of processors; power control circuitry configured to control power up and power down of the processors; a read only memory for storing boot up software for booting up each of the processors. The power control circuitry is configured to respond to receipt of a check state request, to control one of the processors that is currently powered down to power up and to access the boot up software. The boot up software accessed in response to the check state request controls the processor to perform a measurement indicative of a current state of the data processing apparatus and to output a value indicative of the measurement.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2013Publication date: December 18, 2014Applicant: ARM LimitedInventor: John David MERSH
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Patent number: 8639916Abstract: A method of maintaining the integrity of software stored in memory, the method comprising: storing an indicator associated with the memory; calculating a reference value from the stored indicator; storing the reference value; modifying the indicator when the software in the memory is modified; storing the modified indicator; recalculating the reference value from the modified indicator; storing the recalculated reference value; and verifying the integrity of the software by: retrieving the modified indicator; calculating an expected value from the modified indicator; and comparing the expected value with the recalculated reference value. Preferably the integrity of the software is verified without calculating an expected value from the software. The reference and expected values are typically calculated in accordance with a secret key.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2006Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignees: MStar Semiconductor Pte, Ltd., MStar Software R&D (Shenzhen) Ltd., MStar France SAS, MStar Semiconductor, Inc.Inventor: John David Mersh
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Publication number: 20110078669Abstract: A method comprising encrypting an original plain text file and making it available to a user as a protected file, and issuing to said user a user program and a user licence to enable said user to decrypt the protected file and view an image of the original file whilst preventing the image of the original file from being copied to any file, other than as a further protected file. The image is preferably stored in a memory not backed up to the computer swap file. Preferably, the user program comprises an editor program and the user saves editorial changes to the original image in an encrypted difference file, separate from the original file. Both files are then used to re-create the edited image using the editor program and user licence. The user program may comprise any computer tool including compilers.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2005Publication date: March 31, 2011Inventor: John David Mersh
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Publication number: 20090070885Abstract: A data processing system comprising data processing means, control means and an integrated circuit chip containing non-volatile storage, wherein the control means is provided between said chip and the processing means and provides all access to said chip by the processing means and the control means is arranged to check, upon the processing means requiring certain material in the non-volatile storage means, the validity of the required material and prevent the use of the required material by the processing means if invalid. The invention also relates to corresponding methods and to programs for implementing those methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.Inventor: John David Mersh
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Publication number: 20090055656Abstract: A method of maintaining the integrity of software stored in memory, the method comprising: storing an indicator associated with the memory; calculating a reference value from the stored indicator; storing the reference value; modifying the indicator when the software in the memory is modified; storing the modified indicator; recalculating the reference value from the modified indicator; storing the recalculated reference value; and verifying the integrity of the software by: retrieving the modified indicator; calculating an expected value from the modified indicator; and comparing the expected value with the recalculated reference value. Preferably the integrity of the software is verified without calculating an expected value from the software. The reference and expected values are typically calculated in accordance with a secret key.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2006Publication date: February 26, 2009Applicants: MSTAR SEMICONDUCTOR PTE. LTD., MSTAR SOFTWARE R&D (SHENZHEN) LTD., MSTAR FRANCE SAS, MSTAR SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.Inventor: John David Mersh