Abstract: A mobile communications device having a digital certificate authenticating the device itself is proposed. A server for authenticating the device and a method of authenticating the device are also disclosed. The device comprises a transmitter, a processor, a memory and a computer readable medium. The memory includes a certificate certifying the authenticity of the mobile communications device, the certificate comprising device-specific data and a digital signature signed by an authority having control of the authenticity of the mobile communications device. The computer readable medium has computer readable instructions stored thereon that when executed configure the processor to instruct the transmitter to transmit a copy of the certificate to a service provider in response to a request to authenticate the mobile communications device with the service provider.

Abstract: Augmented processor hardware contains a microcode interpreter. When encrypted microcode is included in a message from a service, the microcode may be passed to the microcode interpreter. Based on decryption and execution of the microcode taking place at the processor hardware, extended functionality may be realized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling access to encrypted data is provided. The device comprises: a processor and a memory, the processor configured to: control access to encrypted data, stored at the memory, the encrypted data categorized according to a plurality of categories, using a respective encryption key for each category in the plurality of categories; and, control access to a given encryption key according to given criteria associated with a given category, respective criteria different for each respective category, access to the given encryption key including one or more of, when the respective criteria are met: generating the given encryption key and decrypting the given encryption key.

Abstract: A mobile communications device having a digital certificate authenticating the device itself is proposed. A server for authenticating the device and a method of authenticating the device are also disclosed. The device comprises a transmitter, a processor, a memory and a computer readable medium. The memory includes a certificate certifying the authenticity of the mobile communications device, the certificate comprising device-specific data and a digital signature signed by an authority having control of the authenticity of the mobile communications device. The computer readable medium has computer readable instructions stored thereon that when executed configure the processor to instruct the transmitter to transmit a copy of the certificate to a service provider in response to a request to authenticate the mobile communications device with the service provider.

Abstract: Operations or functions on a device may require an operational certificate to ensure that the user of the device or the device itself is permitted to carry out the operations or functions. A system and a method are provided for providing an operational certificate to a device, whereby the operational certificate is associated with one or more operations of the device. A manufacturing certificate authority, during the manufacture of the device, obtains identity information associated with the device and provides a manufacturing certificate to the device. An operational certificate authority obtains and authenticates at least a portion of the identity information associated with the device from the manufacturing certificate and, if at least the portion of the identity information is authenticated, the operational certificate is provided to the device.

Abstract: A mobile communications device having a digital certificate authenticating the device itself is proposed. A server for authenticating the device and a method of authenticating the device are also disclosed. The device comprises a transmitter, a processor, a memory and a computer readable medium. The memory includes a certificate certifying the authenticity of the mobile communications device, the certificate comprising device-specific data and a digital signature signed by an authority having control of the authenticity of the mobile communications device. The computer readable medium has computer readable instructions stored thereon that when executed configure the processor to instruct the transmitter to transmit a copy of the certificate to a service provider in response to a request to authenticate the mobile communications device with the service provider.

Abstract: Operations or functions on a device may require an operational certificate to ensure that the user of the device or the device itself is permitted to carry out the operations or functions. A system and a method are provided for providing an operational certificate to a device, whereby the operational certificate is associated with one or more operations of the device. A manufacturing certificate authority, during the manufacture of the device, obtains identity information associated with the device and provides a manufacturing certificate to the device. An operational certificate authority obtains and authenticates at least a portion of the identity information associated with the device from the manufacturing certificate and, if at least the portion of the identity information is authenticated, the operational certificate is provided to the device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for computing a secret shared with a portable electronic device and service entity. The service entity has a public key G and a private key g. A message comprising the public key G is broadcast to the portable electronic device. A public key B of the portable electronic device is obtained from a manufacturing server and used together with the private key g to compute the shared secret. The portable electronic device receives the broadcast message and computes the shared secret as a function of the public key G and the portable electronic device's private key b. The shared secret can be used to establish a trusted relationship between the portable electronic device and the service entity, to activate a service on the portable electronic device, and to generate certificates.

Abstract: Normally, at the time of manufacturing, security may be provided to a device being manufactured through the loading of an operating system that has been cryptographically signed. The present application discloses a “factory mode” for the device. The “factory mode” allows the device to execute untrusted operating system code, such as unsigned operating system code and operating system code that has been signed, but the certificate authority is not trusted. To support execution of untrusted operating system code in a secure manner, the device may be adapted to prevent data of predetermined type from being loaded on the device while the device is in the “factory mode”. In contrast to the “factory mode”, the secure mode of the device is referred to herein as a “product mode”. There develops a need to manage, in a secure manner, transitions between the “product mode” and the “factory mode”.

Abstract: By securing a component within a product, before the component is delivered to the final device manufacturing facility, the device manufacturing process can be made provably secure. Additionally, the component may be tested for security and authenticity during manufacture and even later, as the device enters use by a consumer.

Abstract: Augmented processor hardware contains a microcode interpreter. When encrypted microcode is included in a message from a service, the microcode may be passed to the microcode interpreter. Based on decryption and execution of the microcode taking place at the processor hardware, extended functionality may be realized.

Abstract: Augmented processor hardware contains a microcode interpreter. When encrypted microcode is included in a challenge from a service requiring authentication, the microcode may be passed to the microcode interpreter. Based on decryption and execution of the microcode taking place at the processor hardware, tampering by potentially abusive device software may be avoided.

Abstract: Operations or functions on a device may require an operational certificate to ensure that the user of the device or the device itself is permitted to carry out the operations or functions. A system and a method are provided for providing an operational certificate to a device, whereby the operational certificate is associated with one or more operations of the device. A manufacturing certificate authority, during the manufacture of the device, obtains identity information associated with the device and provides a manufacturing certificate to the device. An operational certificate authority obtains and authenticates at least a portion of the identity information associated with the device from the manufacturing certificate and, if at least the portion of the identity information is authenticated, the operational certificate is provided to the device.

Abstract: A mobile communications device having a digital certificate authenticating the device itself is proposed. A server for authenticating the device and a method of authenticating the device are also disclosed. The device comprises a transmitter, a processor, a memory and a computer readable medium. The memory includes a certificate certifying the authenticity of the mobile communications device, the certificate comprising device-specific data and a digital signature signed by an authority having control of the authenticity of the mobile communications device. The computer readable medium has computer readable instructions stored thereon that when executed configure the processor to instruct the transmitter to transmit a copy of the certificate to a service provider in response to a request to authenticate the mobile communications device with the service provider.