Cryptography – Key management – Having particular key generator
Patent
1995-11-30
1998-02-03
Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W.
Cryptography
Key management
Having particular key generator
39518801, 395186, 380 23, 380 25, 364483, 34087002, 324142, G06F 1520, G06F 704, H04L 932
Patent
active
057153906
ABSTRACT:
An electricity meter having a protected enabling scheme for activating meter options and upgrades is presented. The meter has a unique serial number, which includes bit-flags indicating which options have already been enabled, stored in the non-volatile RAM. Each option which is not enabled must be requested and a password verified before it can be utilized. At least one password is stored in a read protected location in the non-volatile RAM. The meter is in communication with a computer, e.g., a desktop or laptop type of computer. The password is generated by processing a secret software key and the unique serial number of the meter with an authentication algorithm. The computer is loaded with an upgrade software program, which includes the authentication algorithm. A hardware key which stores a secret software key is attached to a parallel port of the computer. The upgrade software program reads the serial number from the non-volatile RAM in the meter and reads the secret software key from the hardware key, then processes the read secret software key and the read unique serial number of the meter with the stored authentication algorithm to generate at least one password. The password along with an upgrade command are presented to the meter where they are compared to the read-protected password in the meter, and, if there is a match, then the upgrade command initiates codes in the meter to implement one or more stored options or upgrades.
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Hershey John E.
Hoffman Mark E.
Beausoliel, Jr. Robert W.
Do Luan C.
General Electric Company
Horton Carl B.
Pham Hanh T.
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