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).

  • Patent number: 11068275
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventor: John David Mersh
  • Publication number: 20200150973
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventor: John David MERSH
  • Patent number: 10650168
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Secure Thingz Limited
    Inventor: John David Mersh
  • Patent number: 10564981
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventor: John David Mersh
  • Publication number: 20180314530
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventor: John David MERSH
  • Publication number: 20180285602
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventor: John David Mersh
  • Publication number: 20180113715
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventor: John David MERSH
  • Patent number: 9875112
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventor: John David Mersh
  • Publication number: 20160154655
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventor: John David MERSH
  • Publication number: 20160098555
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: John David MERSH, Stuart David BILES
  • Patent number: 9268942
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventor: John David Mersh
  • Patent number: 8935681
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignees: MStar Semiconductor, Inc., MStar Software R&D (Shenzhen) Ltd., MStar France SAS, MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: John David Mersh
  • Publication number: 20140372738
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: ARM Limited
    Inventor: John David MERSH
  • Patent number: 8639916
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignees: MStar Semiconductor Pte, Ltd., MStar Software R&D (Shenzhen) Ltd., MStar France SAS, MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: John David Mersh
  • Publication number: 20110078669
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: John David Mersh
  • Publication number: 20090070885
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: John David Mersh
  • Publication number: 20090055656
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicants: MSTAR SEMICONDUCTOR PTE. LTD., MSTAR SOFTWARE R&D (SHENZHEN) LTD., MSTAR FRANCE SAS, MSTAR SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventor: John David Mersh