The holder of the '717 patent has sued Microsoft, Symantec, CA, F-Secure, McAfee, Kaspersky, Sophos, Novell, and PC Tools for infringing this patent.
#168Process for securing and for checking the integrity of the secured programs
Applies to Claims 121,2,62
Last updated: 3 months ago
Summary / Description
Summary / DescriptionSiemens patent describes a system where a hash code is computed for original program files and for program files at load time, and if the hash code is different then the loader halts the loading with an alert signal.
 
Basic Information
Type of Prior ArtIssued Patents - US
 
CountryUnited States of America
 
Patent/Application #5224160
 
Kind CodeUnited States (US) - United STATES Patent - A
 
Patentee NameSiemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG
 
Relevant Pages, Columns, or Linescol 2, lines 1 through 21; col
 
URLhttp://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/...
 
Publication DateFebruary 2, 1987
 
Additional InformationPublication date is actually the priority date of german patent P 37 05 736.7 given in the US patent. US Patent filing date is March 20, 1992.
 
Notes / To Do
NotesWhile the relevant claim (2) is a dependent claim, it's important to understand that the only disclosed benefit of the invention claimed is to gain the same benefit as given in the Siemens patent, using the same mechanism as the Siemens patent. See '711 p
 
Excerpt
it is an object of the invention to provide a process by which it is possible to automatically recognize the manipulation of programs in a data processing system, without substantial damage to the efficiency of the system, and to automatically prevent execution of the manipulated programs. In accordance with this invention, at least the programs which effect the system in initializations are coded by application of a symmetric cryptographic algorithm using a readback protected, stored, secret key for forming a test number, which is stored in the memory of the system. A successive, repeated program coding of this kind is used for checking the integrity at system initialization of the data processing unit, and in each case the thus obtained test numbers are compared with the respectively stored test numbers so that, in case of a negative comparison result, the activation of the respective subsequent starting steps of the system and programs can be blocked.
Relevance
Claims
Claim 62

Apparatus for protecting a digital computer user according to Claim 61 further including means for storing a hash of said associated computer program.
Relevance
While the relevant claim (2) is a dependent claim, it's important to understand that the only disclosed benefit of the invention claimed is to gain the same benefit as given in the Siemens patent, using the same mechanism.
While the relevant claim (2) is a dependent claim, it's important to understand that the only disclosed benefit of the invention claimed is to gain the same benefit as given in the Siemens patent, using the same mechanism.
Claim Chart
All
CLaim 2

Apparatus for protecting a digital computer user according to Claim 1, wherein said at least one segment includes means for storing a hash of said associated program.
Relevance
While the relevant claim (2) is a dependent claim, it's important to understand that the only disclosed benefit of the invention claimed is to gain the same benefit as given in the Siemens patent, using the same mechanism.
While the relevant claim (2) is a dependent claim, it's important to understand that the only disclosed benefit of the invention claimed is to gain the same benefit as given in the Siemens patent, using the same mechanism.
Claim Chart
All
Claim 121

A method according to Claim 120 further including storing a hash of said associated computer program.
Relevance
While the relevant claim (2) is a dependent claim, it's important to understand that the only disclosed benefit of the invention claimed is to gain the same benefit as given in the Siemens patent, using the same mechanism.
While the relevant claim (2) is a dependent claim, it's important to understand that the only disclosed benefit of the invention claimed is to gain the same benefit as given in the Siemens patent, using the same mechanism.
Claim Chart
All