Patent ID: 7613931
Filing Date: 2009-11-03
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A copy protection method for a field-programmable gate array including a first circuit being connected to the field-programmable gate array and a memory device in which a user circuit data and a first startup key code string are stored, the method comprising: determining, in the first circuit, a determination result by comparing a decryption result of the startup key code string with a first startup key information which is pre-programmed; when the determination result is correct, causing the first circuit to boot the user circuit data to the field-programmable gate array; when the determination result is incorrect, causing the first circuit to reset the field-programmable gate array; booting, in the first circuit, a startup control program data which contains the first startup key code string and a first authentication circuit data to the field-programmable gate array; and decrypting, by the first circuit, the first startup key code string transmitted from the field-programmable gate array, wherein when the determination result is correct, the first circuit boots the user circuit data to the field-programmable gate array to generate a user circuit, decrypts a second startup key code string transmitted from the field-programmable gate array, and determines a second determination result by comparing a decryption result of the second startup key code string with a second startup key information; and when the second determination result is correct, the first circuit causes an operation of the user circuit to continue, and when the determination result is incorrect, the first circuit resets the field-programmable gate array, wherein the first circuit comprises a user-specific gate array.