Patents by Inventor Mark Alan Lovell

Mark Alan Lovell 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).

  • Publication number: 20170317677
    Abstract: Presented are systems and methods that allow hardware designers to protect valuable IP and information in the hardware domain in order to increase overall system security. In various embodiments of the invention this is accomplished by configuring logic gates of existing logic circuitry based on a key input. In certain embodiments, a logic function provides results that are dependent not only on input values but also on an encrypted logic key that determines connections for a given logic building block, such that the functionality of the logic function cannot be determined by reverse engineering. In some embodiments, the logic key is created by decrypting a piece of data using a secret or private key. Advantages of automatic encryption include that existing circuitry need not be re-implemented or re-built, and that the systems and methods presented are backward compatible with standard manufacturing tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Muchsel, Donald Wood Loomis, III, Edward Tangkwai Ma, Hung Thanh Nguyen, Nancy Kow Iida, Mark Alan Lovell
  • Patent number: 9705501
    Abstract: Presented are systems and methods that allow hardware designers to protect valuable IP and information in the hardware domain in order to increase overall system security. In various embodiments of the invention this is accomplished by configuring logic gates of existing logic circuitry based on a key input. In certain embodiments, a logic function provides results that are dependent not only on input values but also on an encrypted logic key that determines connections for a given logic building block, such that the functionality of the logic function cannot be determined by reverse engineering. In some embodiments, the logic key is created by decrypting a piece of data using a secret decryption key. Advantages of automatic encryption include that existing circuitry need not be re-implemented or re-built, and that the systems and methods presented are backward compatible with standard manufacturing tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Muchsel, Donald Wood Loomis, III, Edward Tangkwai Ma, Hung Thanh Nguyen, Nancy Kow Iida, Mark Alan Lovell
  • Patent number: 9311255
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a microcontroller designed for protection of intellectual digital content. The microcontroller includes a secure CPU, a real-time cipher, and a user programmable multi-layer access control system for internal memory realized by programmable nonvolatile memory. Programmable nonvolatile memory allows in-system and in-application programming for the end user. The programmable nonvolatile memory is mainly used for program code and operating parameter storage. The multiple-layer access control is an integral part of the CPU, providing confidentiality protection to embedded digital content by controlling reading, writing, and/or execution of a code segment according to a set of user-programmed parameters. The cipher incorporates a set of cryptographic rules for data encryption and decryption with row and column manipulation for data storage. All cryptographic operations are executed in parallel with CPU run time without incurring additional latency and delay for system operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Muchsel, Donald W. Loomis, Edward Tang K. Ma, Mark Alan Lovell, Michael Anthony Quarles
  • Publication number: 20160099714
    Abstract: Presented are systems and methods that allow hardware designers to protect valuable IP and information in the hardware domain in order to increase overall system security. In various embodiments of the invention this is accomplished by configuring logic gates of existing logic circuitry based on a key input. In certain embodiments, a logic function provides results that are dependent not only on input values but also on an encrypted logic key that determines connections for a given logic building block, such that the functionality of the logic function cannot be determined by reverse engineering. In some embodiments, the logic key is created by decrypting a piece of data using a secret decryption key. Advantages of automatic encryption include that existing circuitry need not be re-implemented or re-built, and that the systems and methods presented are backward compatible with standard manufacturing tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: MAXIM INTEGRATED PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Muchsel, Donald Wood Loomis, III, Edward Tangkwai Ma, Hung Thanh Nguyen, Nancy Kow Iida, Mark Alan Lovell
  • Publication number: 20140040584
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a microcontroller designed for protection of intellectual digital content. The microcontroller includes a secure CPU, a real-time cipher, and a user programmable multi-layer access control system for internal memory realized by programmable nonvolatile memory. Programmable nonvolatile memory allows in-system and in-application programming for the end user. The programmable nonvolatile memory is mainly used for program code and operating parameter storage. The multiple-layer access control is an integral part of the CPU, providing confidentiality protection to embedded digital content by controlling reading, writing, and/or execution of a code segment according to a set of user-programmed parameters. The cipher incorporates a set of cryptographic rules for data encryption and decryption with row and column manipulation for data storage. All cryptographic operations are executed in parallel with CPU run time without incurring additional latency and delay for system operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Michael Muchsel, Donald W. Loomis, Edward Tang K. Ma, Mark Alan Lovell, Michael Anthony Quarles
  • Patent number: 8555015
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a microcontroller designed for protection of intellectual digital content. The microcontroller includes a secure CPU, a real-time cipher, and a user programmable multi-layer access control system for internal memory realized by programmable nonvolatile memory. Programmable nonvolatile memory allows in-system and in-application programming for the end user. The programmable nonvolatile memory is mainly used for program code and operating parameter storage. The multiple-layer access control is an integral part of the CPU, providing confidentiality protection to embedded digital content by controlling reading, writing, and/or execution of a code segment according to a set of user-programmed parameters. The cipher incorporates a set of cryptographic rules for data encryption and decryption with row and column manipulation for data storage. All cryptographic operations are executed in parallel with CPU run time without incurring additional latency and delay for system operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Muchsel, Donald W. Loomis, Edward Tang K. Ma, Mark Alan Lovell, Michael Anthony Quarles
  • Publication number: 20100106954
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a microcontroller designed for protection of intellectual digital content. The microcontroller includes a secure CPU, a real-time cipher, and a user programmable multi-layer access control system for internal memory realized by programmable nonvolatile memory. Programmable nonvolatile memory allows in-system and in-application programming for the end user. The programmable nonvolatile memory is mainly used for program code and operating parameter storage. The multiple-layer access control is an integral part of the CPU, providing confidentiality protection to embedded digital content by controlling reading, writing, and/or execution of a code segment according to a set of user-programmed parameters. The cipher incorporates a set of cryptographic rules for data encryption and decryption with row and column manipulation for data storage. All cryptographic operations are executed in parallel with CPU run time without incurring additional latency and delay for system operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Robert Michael Muchsel, Donald W. Loomis, Edward Tang K. Ma, Mark Alan Lovell, Michael Anthony Quarles
  • Patent number: 7602701
    Abstract: A cross-connect protection method and system having two switch fabrics each coupled to at least one SONET add/drop multiplexer. The SONET add/drop multiplexer utilizes PDI-P codes to determine which signal between a working signal received from a working fabric and protect signal received from a protect fabric to forward on to the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Mandana Nooraee Parker, Paul E. Irek, Mark Alan Lovell