Patents by Inventor Robert D. Cassagnol

Robert D. Cassagnol 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: 6600730
    Abstract: A system for distributing separate multiple satellite communication services signals to receivers at a local earth site on a single cable line. A dual satellite antenna receives the signals from two separate satellites, each of which can correspond to a respective satellite communication service. The received satellite signals are processed into two separate frequency bands. A frequency converter using frequency division multiplexing converts at least one of the received frequency bands so as to position both of the frequency bands adjacent to each other. A summer receives the adjacent frequency bands and distributes them on a single cable line to receivers so that the receivers have access to the separate multiple satellite communication service signals on a single cable line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Davis, Walter R. Kepley, Robert D. Cassagnol, Douglas M. Dillon
  • Publication number: 20020129245
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a secure processing environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a read/write memory for storing encrypted information. It also includes a processor, a cipherer and an authenticator. The cipherer is in communication with the read/write memory for receiving encrypted information therefrom and is configured to decrypt the encrypted information into decrypted information to be returned to the memory for subsequent use by the processor. The authenticator authenticates the decrypted information prior to use by the processor and re-authenticates the information prior to re-encryption by the cipherer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Robert D. Cassagnol, Douglas M. Dillon, David S. Kloper, Sandra J. Weber, Brandon E. Bautz
  • Patent number: 6438666
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling access to confidential data are disclosed. The disclosed apparatus includes a non-volatile memory for storing data and a logic circuit for controlling access to the data contained in the memory. The logic circuit selectively accesses the memory to determine whether at least a portion of the data contained in the memory comprises confidential data by analyzing a property inherent in the accessed data. The disclosed method includes the steps of: defining a predetermined section of the programmable memory as a repository for confidential data; addressing the predetermined section of the programmable memory; calculating a number of data blocks in the predetermined section having a predetermined characteristic; comparing the calculated number to a threshold value; and defining the memory as including confidential data in the predetermined section if the calculated number has a predetermined relationship to the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Cassagnol, Douglas M. Dillon, David S. Kloper, Sandra J. Weber, Brandon E. Bautz
  • Patent number: 6385727
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a secure processing environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a read/write memory for storing encrypted information. It also includes a processor, a cipherer and an authenticator. The cipherer is in communication with the read/write memory for receiving encrypted information therefrom and is configured to decrypt the encrypted information into decrypted information to be returned to the memory for subsequent use by the processor. The authenticator authenticates the decrypted information prior to use by the processor and re-authenticates the information prior to re-encryption by the cipherer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Cassagnol, Douglas M. Dillon, David S. Kloper, Sandra J. Weber, Brandon E. Bautz
  • Patent number: 6331979
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for an adapter card, for use in a computer, to provide conditional access by the computer to incoming data streams while maintaining the security of information by maintaining a listing of addresses corresponding to data streams which the computer is authorized to receive, receiving and determining the address of a frame, determining whether the frame address matches an address maintained in an Access Table, and processing and transmitting only those frames of data streams which the computer is authorized to receive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas M. Dillon, Robert D. Cassagnol
  • Publication number: 20010044886
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling access to confidential data are disclosed. The disclosed apparatus includes a non-volatile memory for storing data and a logic circuit for controlling access to the data contained in the memory. The logic circuit selectively accesses the memory to determine whether at least a portion of the data contained in the memory comprises confidential data by analyzing a property inherent in the accessed data. The disclosed method includes the steps of: defining a predetermined section of the programmable memory as a repository for confidential data; addressing the predetermined section of the programmable memory; calculating a number of data blocks in the predetermined section having a predetermined characteristic; comparing the calculated number to a threshold value; and defining the memory as including confidential data in the predetermined section if the calculated number has a predetermined relationship to the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: ROBERT D. CASSAGNOL, DOUGLAS M. DILLON, DAVID S. KLOPER, SANDRA J. WEBER, BRANDON E. BAUTZ
  • Patent number: 6307937
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for an adapter card, for use in a computer, to provide conditional access by the computer to incoming data streams while maintaining the security of information by maintaining a listing of addresses corresponding to data streams which the computer is authorized to receive, receiving and determining the address of a frame, determining whether the frame address matches an address maintained in an Access Table, and processing and transmitting only those frames of data streams which the computer is authorized to receive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas M. Dillon, Robert D. Cassagnol
  • Publication number: 20010019613
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for an adapter card, for use in a computer, to provide conditional access by the computer to incoming data streams while maintaining the security of information by maintaining a listing of addresses corresponding to data streams which the computer is authorized to receive, receiving and determining the address of a frame, determining whether the frame address matches an address maintained in an Access Table, and processing and transmitting only those frames of data streams which the computer is authorized to receive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Applicant: HUGHES ELECTRONICS
    Inventors: Douglas M. Dillon, Robert D. Cassagnol
  • Patent number: 6215873
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for an adapter card, for use in a computer, to provide conditional access by the computer to incoming data streams while maintaining the security of information by maintaining a listing of addresses corresponding to data streams which the computer is authorized to receive, receiving and determining the address of a frame, determining whether the frame address matches an address maintained in an Access Table, and processing and transmitting only those frames of data streams which the computer is authorized to receive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas M. Dillon, Robert D. Cassagnol
  • Patent number: 6131160
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for an adapter card, for use in a computer, to provide conditional access by the computer to incoming data streams while maintaining the security of information by maintaining a listing of addresses corresponding to data streams which the computer is authorized to receive, receiving and determining the address of a frame, determining whether the frame address matches an address maintained in an Access Table, and processing and transmitting only those frames of data streams which the computer is authorized to receive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas M. Dillon, Robert D. Cassagnol
  • Patent number: 6125184
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for an adapter card, for use in a computer, to provide conditional access by the computer to incoming data streams while maintaining the security of information by maintaining a listing of addresses corresponding to data streams which the computer is authorized to receive, receiving and determining the address of a frame, determining whether the frame address matches an address maintained in an Access Table, and processing and transmitting only those frames of data streams which the computer is authorized to receive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas M. Dillon, Robert D. Cassagnol
  • Patent number: 5652795
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for an adapter card, for use in a computer, to provide conditional access by the computer to incoming data streams while maintaining the security of information by maintaining a listing of addresses corresponding to data streams which the computer is authorized to receive, receiving and determining the address of a frame, determining whether the frame address matches an address maintained in an Access Table, and processing and transmitting only those frames of data streams which the computer is authorized to receive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics
    Inventors: Douglas M. Dillon, Robert D. Cassagnol