초록 ▼

A microprocessor for executing computer programs which are stored in cipher to prevent software piracy. Such a crypto-microprocessor deciphers the enciphered program piecemeal as it executes it, so that a large enciphered program can be securely executed without disclosing the deciphered program or

A microprocessor for executing computer programs which are stored in cipher to prevent software piracy. Such a crypto-microprocessor deciphers the enciphered program piecemeal as it executes it, so that a large enciphered program can be securely executed without disclosing the deciphered program or associated data to persons who have access to the wiring of the computer in which the crypto-microprocessor is a component. Such a device may process valuable proprietary programs and data files which are distributed in cipher on videodiscs, semiconductor memory, or other media without risk of software piracy. Various methods of encryption may be used including methods which result in the cipher of a byte being a complicated function of the byte\s address in memory. Each crypto-microprocessor chip may use a unique cipher key or tables for deciphering the program, so that a program that can be executed in one chip cannot be run in any other microprocessor.

대표청구항 ▼

A cryptographic microprocessor apparatus constructed as an integrated circuit chip for executing a computer program of information stored in enciphered form in a storage means as a plurality of portions of enciphered program instructions, the apparatus comprising: means included in said chip for sto

A cryptographic microprocessor apparatus constructed as an integrated circuit chip for executing a computer program of information stored in enciphered form in a storage means as a plurality of portions of enciphered program instructions, the apparatus comprising: means included in said chip for storing a cipher key; deciphering means included in said chip for cryptographically transforming a portion of said enciphered program information under control of said cipher key to produce a portion of deciphered information containing a deciphered instruction in said program; processing means included in said chip for fetching a deciphered instruction from a portion of deciphered information from said deciphering means, and for executing the deciphered instruction, and for addressing in said storage means a subsequent portion of said enciphered program information for transforming by said deciphering means.