Claims
- 1. A method for consumer product distribution in the embedded system market, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) forming a secure network for distributing product digitation files capable of configuring operations of an adaptive computing engine (ACE); and (b) providing an agent server within the secure network for controlling licenses of the product digitation files, wherein a separation of responsibility and control of the distributing and licensing exists.
- 2. The method of claim 1 which further comprises the step of:
(c) utilizing a secure connection for passing a product digitation file from a digitation file provider to the agent server for verification and signing.
- 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:
(d) returning the verified and signed product digitation file to the digitation file provider across the secure connection.
- 4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:
(e) encrypting the returned product digitation file and assigning a code identifier to the encrypted digitation file.
- 5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:
(f) securely sending the encrypted digitation file to the agent server and making the product digitation file available for acquisition.
- 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
(c) requesting acquisition of a product digitation file and transferring the product digitation file across the secure network to the ACE.
- 7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of:
(d) utilizing a security manager within the ACE to verify the product digitation file and request a license from a license server.
- 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:
(e) utilizing a certificate in the ACE and in the license server to authenticate each to the other.
- 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:
(f) utilizing the security manager to save the license received and determine terms of the license for tracking use of the product digitation file.
- 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of:
(g) utilizing a clearinghouse for reporting the sending of the license.
- 11. A distribution network for consumer product distribution in the embedded system market, the network comprising:
a device having an adaptive computing engine (ACE); a source of one or more product digitation files; a secure distribution system for transferring, from the source to the device, the product digitation files capable of configuring operations of the ACE; and an agent server coupled to the source and the device for controlling licenses of the product digitation files, wherein a separation of responsibility and control of the distributing and licensing exists.
- 12. The distribution network of claim 11 wherein the secure distribution system further comprises a secure connection for passing a product digitation file from the source to the agent server for verification and signing.
- 13. The distribution network of claim 12 wherein the agent server returns the verified and signed product digitation file to the source across the secure connection.
- 14. The distribution network of claim 13 wherein the source further encrypts the returned product digitation file and assigns a code identifier to the encrypted digitation file.
- 15. The distribution network of claim 14 wherein the source sends the encrypted digitation stream to the agent server to be made available for acquisition.
- 16. The distribution network of claim 11 wherein the device utilizes a security manager to verify the product digitation file.
- 17. The distribution network of claim 16 further comprising a license server for receiving requests for a license from the device.
- 18. The distribution network of claim 17 wherein the device and the license server utilize certificates to authenticate each to the other.
- 19. The distribution network of claim 18 wherein the security manager saves the license received and determines terms of the license for tracking use of the product digitation file.
- 20. The distribution network of claim 19 wherein the agent server utilizes a clearinghouse for reporting the sending of the license.
- 21. A method for consumer product distribution in the embedded system market, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing an agent server in a network for distributing product digitation files capable of configuring operations of an adaptive computing engine (ACE); and (b) utilizing distribution tools within the agent server to ensure security, licensing and billing during the distributing in the network.
- 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the utilizing distribution tools step (b) further comprises the step of:
(b1) utilizing a verification service tool.
- 23. The method of claim 21 wherein the utilizing distribution tools step (b) further comprises:
(b1) utilizing a signing service tool.
- 24. The method of claim 21 wherein the utilizing distribution tools step (b) further comprises:
(b1) utilizing an encryption service tool.
- 25. The method of claim 21 wherein the utilizing distribution tools step (b) further comprises:
(b1) utilizing a distribution service tool.
- 26. The method of claim 21 wherein the utilizing distribution tools step (b) further comprises:
(b1) utilizing a clearinghouse service tool.
- 27. A method for securely distributing and downloading product digitation files, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) utilizing a product digitation file to configure operations of an adaptive computing engine (ACE); and (b) securely distributing the product digitation file from a digitation file provider to a device having an ACE with protection against modification while ensuring authentication of the product digitation file.
- 28. The method of claim 27 wherein step (b) further comprises the step of:
(b1) utilizing a secure connection for passing a product digitation file from the digitation file provider to an agent server for verification and signing with a cryptographic signature.
- 29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of:
(b2) returning the verified and signed product digitation file to the digitation file provider across the secure connection.
- 30. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of:
(b3) encrypting the returned product digitation file and assigning a code identifier to the encrypted digitation file.
- 31. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of:
(b4) securely sending the encrypted digitation file to the agent server and making the product digitation file available for acquisition.
- 32. The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of:
(b5) requesting acquisition of the product digitation file and transferring the product digitation file across the secure network to the ACE.
- 33. The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of:
(b6) utilizing a security manager within the ACE to verify the product digitation file by verifying the cryptographic signature.
- 34. A system for securely distributing and downloading product digitation files, the system comprising:
a device having an adaptive computing engine (ACE); a source of one or more product digitation files that are capable of configuring the operations of the ACE; and a secure distribution system for transferring, from the source to the device, a desired product digitation file with protection against modification while ensuring authentication of the desired product digitation file.
- 35. The system of claim 34 wherein the secure distribution system further comprises a secure connection for passing a product digitation file from the source to an agent server for verification and signing with a cryptographic signature.
- 36. The system of claim 35 wherein the agent server returns the verified and signed product digitation file to the source across the secure connection.
- 37. The system of claim 36 wherein the source further encrypts the returned product digitation file and assigns a code identifier to the encrypted digitation file.
- 38. The system of claim 37 wherein the source sends the encrypted digitation file to the agent server to be made available for acquisition.
- 39. The system of claim 38 wherein the device utilizes a security manager to verify an acquired product digitation file by verifying the cryptographic signature.
- 40. A method for securely distributing and downloading product digitation files, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) supporting distribution of product digitation files capable of configuring operations of an adaptive computing engine (ACE) across a computer-based network; and (b) utilizing cryptographic signatures during the distribution to protect against modification and ensure authentication of each product digitation file.
- 41. The method of claim 40 wherein the utilizing cryptographic signatures step (b) further comprises the step of:
(b1) passing a product digitation file from a digitation file provider to an agent server for verification and signing.
- 42. The method of claim 40 wherein the utilizing cryptographic signatures step (b) further comprises:
(b2) returning the verified and signed product digitation file to the digitation file provider across the secure connection.
- 43. The method of claim 42 wherein the utilizing cryptographic signatures step (b) further comprises:
(b3) encrypting the returned product digitation file and assigning a code identifier to the encrypted digitation file.
- 44. The method of claim 43 wherein the utilizing cryptographic signatures step (b) further comprises:
(b4) utilizing a security manager within the ACE to verify an acquired product digitation file by verifying its cryptographic signature.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/010,018 filed on Dec. 5, 2001, and is claiming the benefit of that application under 35 USC §120. The present application is related to applications Ser. No. (QST-049/2396P), entitled “Consumer Product Distribution In The Embedded System Market With Structure To Increase Revenue Potential”, filed Jul. 18, 2002.
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10010018 |
Dec 2001 |
US |
Child |
10199923 |
Jul 2002 |
US |