New patent applications are published by the USPTO on Thursdays. This week's Spotlight Applications continue the theme of blockchain (distributed ledger, smart contracts) and digital rights management broadly construed. Assigned to Fidelity, the first application discloses firmware extensions for secure cryptocurrency key backup, restore, and transaction signing platform apparatuses. Assigned to Merck (DE), the second application discloses techniques for composite security marking for a physical object, in particular to an anti-counterfeit product marking.
20180176013, "Firmware extension for secure cryptocurrency key backup, restore, and transaction signing platform apparatuses, methods and systems," assigned to FMR (Fidelity).
Abstract
The Firmware Extension for Secure Cryptocurrency Key Backup, Restore, and Transaction Signing Platform Apparatuses, Methods and Systems ("SFTSP") transforms transaction signing request, key backup request, key recovery request inputs via SFTSP components into transaction signing response, key backup response, key recovery response outputs. A key backup request that includes an encrypted master key associated with a hosting HSM is received by a backup HSM from a backup utility. A private key decryption key corresponding to a public key encryption key previously provided by the backup HSM to the backup utility for the hosting HSM is retrieved from the backup HSM's tamper-proof storage and used to decrypt the encrypted master key. A specified number of master key shares to generate for the decrypted master key is determined and generated using a secret sharing method. The generated master key shares are provided to the backup utility.
20180174158, (see also 20180174157) "Composite security marking," assigned to Merck (DE).
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to the field of anti-counterfeit protection of products. Specifically, the disclosure is directed to a composite security marking for a physical object, in particular to an anti-counterfeit product marking. In particular, without limitation, such composite security marking can be used in connection with or can form a component of a multi-component security system, in particular of an anti-counterfeit protection system, which is also disclosed herein as part of an overall solution for anti-counterfeit protection. The composite security marking comprises a physical unclonable function, PUF, and a representation of a digital signature or of a pointer indicating a location where said digital signature can be accessed. The digital signature digitally signs a hash value resulting from application of a predetermined cryptographic hash function to data representing a response generated by the PUF in reaction to a challenge of a predetermined challenge-response authentication scheme.
