Patent Abstract:
Methods and systems for securing code in a reprogrammable security system are provided and may comprise detecting when a prior version of code is copied over a subsequent version of code. Operations within the system may be controlled based upon detection of the prior version of code. A unique version identifier may be associated with each successive version of code. The system may compare instances of unique version identifier from varied storage mechanisms on a device which may include flash memory, latch memory and one time programmable memory. The same instances of unique version identifier may be compared with a unique version identifier instance independently received from an external entity. When a comparison reveals a prior version of code copied over a subsequent version of code the system may conduct operations specified for a security breach.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     This application makes reference to, claims priority to, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/828,566, filed on Oct. 6, 2006, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain embodiments of the invention relate to secure systems. More specifically, certain embodiments of the invention relate to a method and system for version control in a reprogrammable security system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various security mechanisms may be implemented to protect reprogrammable systems deployed in the field such as set top boxes in a video distribution system. Occasionally, entry points to restricted-access functionality on such systems may be neglected by resident security code and/or circuitry. Unauthorized users may discover ways to navigate around existing security obstacles and gain prohibited access. In a reprogrammable security system, security software may be updated with subsequent versions of code that correct errors found in prior versions. Security code updates may be distributed by a control center and downloaded in the field. Further access by unauthorized users may require new approaches to the problem. 
     It may be difficult for an unauthorized user to gain restricted access to a device in the field by making modifications to resident security code. Such an attempt would require extensive knowledge and skill on the part of the user due to cryptographic applications. An alternate means may be to make a copy of a prior version of security code whose design is vulnerable to breach, and download it onto the device over a subsequent version of improved code. The system may perceive the copy to be a properly authorized unit of code and may accept it readily into the system. With the prior version of code in place, the unauthorized user may again gain access using the original method to circumvent existing security obstacles. New techniques for securing reprogrammable systems may be needed to prevent future incursions. 
     Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A system and/or method for version control in a reprogrammable security system, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims. 
     Various advantages, aspects and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a block diagram of an exemplary reprogrammable security system that may utilize version control, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary reprogrammable security system that enables version control, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a flow diagram illustrating exemplary steps for version control in a reprogrammable security system, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a continuation of the flow diagram in  FIG. 2A , illustrating exemplary steps for version control in a reprogrammable security system, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2C  is a continuation of the flow diagram in  FIG. 2B , illustrating exemplary steps for version control in a reprogrammable security system, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain aspects of the invention may be found in a method and system for version control in a reprogrammable security system. Aspects of the invention may comprise a reprogrammable security processor that may be communicatively coupled with an external source of command and control. The security processor and the external source of command and control may enable detection of an invalid version of code resident in a security processor memory. The invalid version of code may for example, be a prior version of code that is copied and downloaded over a subsequent version of code. The security processor may utilize historical records of versions of downloaded code from a plurality sources to detect the resident copy of the prior version of code. The prior version of code may be deemed an invalid version of code and its presence may be considered a security breach. The security processor may take action to avoid execution of the invalid version of code. 
       FIG. 1A  is a block diagram of an exemplary communications system that may utilize a reprogrammable security system with version control, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 1A , there is shown a video distribution system that may comprise a command and control head-end  150 , a communications satellite  152 , a satellite communications link  154 , a communications distribution network, a plurality of set top boxes ( 1 )  158  through (N)  160 , television units  162  and  164 . 
     The command and control head-end  150  may comprise suitable circuitry, logic and/or code and may be adapted to distribute video and control signals via the communications distribution network  156  to a plurality of set top boxes ( 1 )  158  through (N)  160 . The command and control head-end  150  may distribute code utilized for security operations within the plurality of set top boxes ( 1 )  158  through (N)  160 . 
     The communications distribution network  156  may comprise suitable circuitry, logic and/or code and may be adapted to provide links between various originating and terminating points for transmission of signals. The communications distribution network  156  may transport signals carrying code utilized for security operations within the plurality of set top boxes ( 1 )  158  through (N)  160  from the command and control head-end  150 . 
     The communications satellite  152  and corresponding satellite communications link  154  may comprise suitable circuitry, logic and/or code and may be adapted to provide uplink and downlink wireless transmissions for the distribution network  156 . The communications satellite  152  uplink and downlink wireless transmissions may transport signals carrying code utilized for security operations within the plurality of set top boxes ( 1 )  158  through (N)  160  from the command and control head-end  150 . 
     The plurality of set top boxes ( 1 )  158  through (N)  160  may comprise suitable circuitry, logic and/or code and may be adapted to receive and transmit signals from/to the command and control head-end  150 . The plurality of set top boxes ( 1 )  158  through (N)  160  may comprise suitable circuitry, logic and/or code for processing, storing and communicating information within the set top box. The plurality of set top boxes ( 1 )  158  through (N)  160  may comprise a reprogrammable security system that may enable security operations for protected functionality therein. The plurality of set top boxes ( 1 )  158  through (N)  160  may be communicatively coupled with the distribution network  156  and corresponding television units shown as  162  and  164 . 
     A plurality of television units shown as  162  and  164  are communicatively coupled with corresponding set top boxes. Television units receive and display decrypted signals from the set top boxes. 
     In operation, new versions of security processor code may be distributed by the command and control head-end  150  and transported via communications signals to the plurality of set top boxes ( 1 )  158  through (N)  160  via one or more of the communications satellite  152 , the satellite communications link  154 , and the communications distribution network  156 . The plurality of set top boxes ( 1 )  158  through (N)  160  may download the code and perform security operations according to various embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 1B  is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary reprogrammable security processor that enables detection of a prior version of code, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a reprogrammable security processor  100  that may comprise an external flash memory  102 , a code loading unit  104 , a latch memory  106 , a bootable read only memory (ROM)  108 , a one time programmable (OTP) memory  110 , a compare unit  112 , an external interface unit  114 , a command parser  116 , and a memory  118 . 
     The external flash memory  102  may comprise suitable storage for security processor code. The version of code resident within flash memory  102  may be identified by an embedded version identifier that may be positioned at a plurality of pre-determined locations within the code. In addition, the security processor code may be encrypted such that the version number may not be apparent to an outside observer and thus not subject to change. The external flash memory  102  may be communicatively coupled to the code loading unit  104 . 
     The code loading unit  104  may comprise suitable circuitry, logic and/or code and may be adapted to load and decrypt the code resident in external flash memory  102  and extract the resident code version identifier embedded within the plurality of pre-determined locations. The code loading unit  104  may be adapted to exchange information with the boot ROM  108  and the latch memory  106 . 
     The latch memory  106  may comprise storage for the version identifier embedded in the code resident in external flash memory  102 . The resident code version identifier may be extracted and latched in the latch memory  106 . Logic around the latch memory may check to see that the plurality of code version numbers embedded in the code all have the same value, thereby preventing a single “lucky guess” by a hacker trying to modify said version number. The latch memory  106  may be communicatively coupled with the code loading unit  104  and the compare unit  112 . 
     The boot ROM  108  may comprise suitable circuitry, logic and/or code to convert a bit in the OTP  110  from zero to one. The boot ROM  108  may be communicatively coupled with the code loading unit  104  and the OTP  110 . 
     The OTP  110  may comprise suitable storage for an OTP version identifier wherein the OTP version identifier may be a binary number initialized with zeros and may be increased in value to match a subsequent code version identifier by changing bits from zero to one but may not be changed to represent a prior code version identifier by reversing the bit value from one to zero. The OTP  110  may be communicatively coupled with the boot ROM  108  and the compare unit  112 . 
     The compare unit  112  may be communicatively coupled with the latch memory  106 , the OTP  110  and the memory  118  and may contain suitable circuitry, logic and/or code to compare version identifiers from a plurality of memory units. 
     The external interface unit  114  may be communicatively coupled with one or more external sources of code and commands for example a command and control head-end. The external interface unit  114  may comprise a decryption unit. The external interface  114  may receive streams of data from the one or more external sources of code and commands that may contain an expected resident code version identifier. The expected resident code version identifier may indicate which version of security processor code the reprogrammable security system expects to be resident in the flash memory  102  of security processor  100 . 
     The command parser  116  may be communicatively coupled with the external interface unit  114  and the memory  118 . The command parser  116  may contain suitable circuitry, logic and/or code to parse the expected resident code version identifier from the received streams of data from the one or more external sources of code and commands. 
     The memory  118  may be communicatively coupled with the command parser and the compare unit  112  and may contain suitable storage for the expected resident code version identifier. 
     In operation, security processor code may be downloaded into the external flash memory  102  and may comprise a corresponding version identifier embedded within a plurality of pre-determined locations. Two or more instances of the corresponding version identifier embedded within a plurality of pre-determined locations may be extracted and compared with each other. If any of the two or more instances of the embedded corresponding version identifiers do not match, the security processor  100  may enter a state of security breach. 
     The corresponding version identifier from the code resident in external flash memory  102  may be latched in latch memory  106 . The latched resident code version identifier may be compared with the OTP version identifier in OTP  110 . When the latched resident code version identifier represents a version of code subsequent to the OTP version identifier, the OTP version identifier may be increased to match the latched resident code version identifier. When the resident code version identifier represents a version of code prior to the OTP version identifier, the security processor  100  may consider this a breach in security and may proceed with operations accordingly; for example, the security processor  100  may report a security fault, may halt operations or may request a software update. Exemplary code version identifiers may comprise alphabetic, numeric, alphanumeric characters, and/or other codes. 
     The external interface unit  114  may receive streams of data comprising commands which may or may not be embedded in video, audio or data. These commands may have an expected resident code version identifier. The external interface  114  may decrypt the incoming data streams. The command parser  116  may receive the streams of data from the external interface  114 , may parse the expected resident code version identifier from the received streams of data and may store the expected resident code version identifier in memory  118 . The security processor  100  may compare the received expected resident code version identifier with one or more of the latched resident code version identifier and the OTP version identifier. When the resident code version identifier represents a version of code prior to the received expected resident code version identifier, the security processor  100  may process a breach in security and may proceed accordingly; for example, the security processor  100  may request a software update, may report a security fault, and may halt operations. 
       FIG. 2A  is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps for version control in a reprogrammable security system, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 2A , step  200  refers to the beginning of security operations on a reprogrammable security processor  100  shown in  FIG. 1B . In step  202 , a one time programmable (OTP) version identifier in OTP  110  may initially contain zeros. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the OTP version identifier may be a binary number that may be increased to match a latched resident code version identifier by changing bits from zero to one but not from one to zero. Other methods of tracking the code version may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention, 
     Notwithstanding, in step  204 , an external source of code and commands, for example a head-end, may send code to a set top box wherein a corresponding code version identifier may be embedded within the code in a plurality of pre-determined locations The embedded corresponding code version identifier may be encrypted along with the code. In step  206 , the received code may be stored in an external flash memory  102 . In step  208 , upon reset of the set top box, the security processor  100  may load the resident code from the external flash memory via the code loading unit  104 , extract and decrypt the corresponding code version identifier from the plurality of pre-determined locations within the resident code and may latch the resident code version identifiers in latch memory  106 . 
     In step  210 , the security processor  100  may compare two or more of the extracted instances of the resident code version identifier to each other. In step  212 , if the extracted resident code version identifiers match each other, the process may proceed to step  214 . In step  212 , If the extracted resident code version identifiers do not match each other, this outcome may be treated as a breach in security wherein for example, one or more of the following measures may be taken: the security processor  100  may reject the resident code and prevent execution of the resident code, a security fault may be reported to the head-end, the security processor  100  may download a subsequent version of code, the security processor  100  may disable one or more applications in the system. 
       FIG. 2B  is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps for version control in a reprogrammable security system, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 2B , step  214  is a continuation directive from the flow chart in  FIG. 2A . In step  218 , the security processor  100  may compare the latched resident code version identifier to the OTP version identifier. In step  220 , if the latched resident code version identifier is equal to the OTP version identifier, the process may proceed to step  222 . In step  222 , the resident code may be accepted and operations may proceed to step  224  without intervention. In step  220 , if the latched resident code version identifier does not equal the OTP version identifier, the process may proceed to step  226 . In step  226 , if the latched resident code version identifier is greater than the OTP version identifier, the process may proceed to step  228 . In step  228 , the OTP version identifier may be increased to match the latched resident code version identifier and the process may proceed to step  222 . In step  226 , if the latched resident code version identifier is less than the OTP version identifier the process may proceed to step  230 . In step  230 , the security processor  100  may treat the outcome of step  226  as a breach in security wherein, for example, one or more of the following measures may be taken: the security processor  100  may reject the resident code and prevent execution of the resident code, a security fault may be reported to the head-end, the security processor may download a subsequent version of code, the security processor  100  may disable one or more applications in the system. 
       FIG. 2C  is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps for version control in a reprogrammable security system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 2C , step  224  is a continuation directive from the flow chart in  FIG. 2B . In step  232 , streams of information which may be CA encrypted may be sent from the head-end to the security processor. The streams of information may comprise commands and an expected resident code version identifier for the security processor. A digest for verifying the received expected resident code version identifier may be embedded within the streams of information as well. In step  234 , the incoming streams of information may be received by an external interface unit  114 , decrypted and sent to a command parser  116 . The command parser  116  may parse the commands and expected resident code version identifier from the streams of information and store the expected resident code version identifier in memory  118 . In step  236 , the expected resident code version identifier may be compared with the latched resident code version identifier. The expected resident code version identifier may be compared with the OTP version identifier. In step  238 , if the expected resident code version identifier matches the latched resident code version identifier and the OTP version identifier, operations may proceed to step  240 . 
     In step  240 , the security processor  100  may determine that the resident version of code is secure and operations may continue to step  242  without taking intervening action. In step  238 , if the expected resident code version identifier does not match the latched resident code version identifier and/or the OTP version identifier, operations may proceed to step  244 . In step  244 , the security processor  100  may treat the outcome of step  238  as a breach in security wherein, for example, one or more of the following measures may be taken: the security processor  100  may reject the resident code and prevent execution of the resident code, a security fault may be reported to the head-end, the security processor  100  may download a subsequent version of code, the security processor may disable one or more applications in the system. 
     The method and system illustrated in  FIG. 1B , enables version control in a reprogrammable security system and may protect against a breach of security. The breach of security may occur when an unauthorized user attempts to download a copy of a prior version of code, containing security flaws, over a subsequent version of code. The prior version of code may be detected by comparing historical code version identifiers from a plurality of records. For example, a one time programmable (OTP) memory  110  may contain a binary number that serves as a code version identifier. The OTP version identifier may be changed to represent subsequent versions of downloaded code but may not be changed in the direction of prior versions of code. 
     The version control method may comprise downloading into flash memory  102 , code wherein a corresponding code version identifier is embedded within a plurality of locations. Two or more instances of the embedded corresponding version identifiers may be extracted from the code by the code loading logic  104  and may be compared with each other. If any of the two or more instances of the embedded corresponding version identifiers do not match, the security processor  100  may detect a security breach. The security processor  100  may intervene with one or more of the following actions: reject the code resident in flash memory  102  and prevent execution of the code, report a security fault to the head-end, download a subsequent version of code and disable one or more applications in the system. 
     The corresponding version identifier may be latched in latch memory  106  to represent the version of code resident in flash memory  102 . The latched resident code version identifier and the OTP version identifier stored in OTP  110  may be compared within the compare unit  112 . If the latched resident code version identifier represents a version subsequent to the OTP version identifier, the OTP version identifier in OTP  110  may be increased to match the latched resident code version identifier. When the latched resident code version identifier and the OTP version identifier represent the same version of security processor code, no intervening action may be required. If the latched resident code version identifier represents a version of security processor code prior to the OTP version identifier, the security processor  100  may detect that a security breach has occurred. The security processor  100  may intervene with one or more of the following actions: reject the code resident in flash memory  102  and prevent execution of the code, report a security fault to the head-end, download a subsequent version of code and disable one or more applications in the system. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the external interface unit  114  may receive streams of information from the head-end comprising commands and a version identifier representing the version of code it expects to be resident on the security processor  100 . The security processor  100  may utilize the expected resident code version identifier to foil attempts at unauthorized access wherein an unauthorized user may have prevented an increase in the OTP version identifier when a new version of code may have been downloaded, thus enabling the unauthorized user to download an earlier version of code that matches an old OTP version identifier. In this regard, the head-end may send the expected resident code version identifier independent of any downloaded code and the old OTP version identifier may be detected. 
     Accordingly, the expected resident code version identifier may be parsed from the received streams of information by the command parser  116  and stored in the memory  118 . The expected resident code version identifier may be compared in the compare unit  112  with one or more of the latched resident code version identifier from latch memory  106  and the OTP version identifier from OTP  110 . If the compared identifiers represent the same version of security processor code, no intervening action is required. If the compared identifiers represent different versions of security processor code, the security processor  100  may detect a security breach. The security processor  100  may intervene with one or more of the following actions: reject the code resident in flash memory  102  and prevent execution of the code, report a security fault to the head-end, download a subsequent version of code and disable one or more applications in the system. 
     Aspects of the invention may be found in a method and system for detecting in a reprogrammable security system, instances when a prior version of code is copied over a subsequent version of code, and for controlling operations of the security system based on the detection as is shown in  FIG. 1B  block  100 . In this regard, each of the prior version of code and the subsequent version of code may comprise a corresponding unique code version identifier embedded therein. Additionally, the corresponding unique code version identifier for each of the prior version of code and subsequent version of code may be embedded in a plurality of locations therein as shown in block  102  of  FIG. 1 . The corresponding unique code version identifier for each prior version of code and subsequent version of code may be encrypted within corresponding ones of the prior version of code and the subsequent version of code. Also, two or more instances of unique code version identifier for corresponding ones of prior version of code and subsequent version of code may be compared with each other. Based on the comparison, a security breach may be detected when any of the two or more instances of unique code version identifiers do not match. 
     The corresponding unique code version identifier for corresponding ones of the prior version of code and the subsequent version of code may be latched in memory block  106 . In this regard, the latched corresponding unique code version identifier stored in memory  106  and a stored one time programmable (OTP) unique code version identifier that corresponds to the prior version of code or the subsequent version of code stored in block  110 , may be compared within the comparator block  112 . Accordingly, the OTP unique code version identifier stored in block  110  may be changed to match the corresponding unique code version identifier latched in block  106  when the latched corresponding unique code version identifier indicates a subsequent version of code. If the result of the comparison shows that the stored OTP unique version identifier indicates a subsequent version of code, a security breach may be detected. 
     Within compare block  112 , one or more of the stored OTP unique code version identifier from block  110  and the latched corresponding unique code version identifier from block  106 , may be compared with a system reference code version identifier from memory  118 . As a result of the comparison, a security breach may be detected when the system reference code version identifier indicates a subsequent version of code. 
     Certain embodiments of the invention may comprise a machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for version control in a reprogrammable security system, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform one or more of the steps described herein. 
     Accordingly, aspects of the invention may be realized in hardware, software, firmware or a combination thereof. The invention may be realized in a centralized fashion in at least one computer system or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware, software and firmware may be a general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein. 
     One embodiment of the present invention may be implemented as a board level product, as a single chip, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or with varying levels integrated on a single chip with other portions of the system as separate components. The degree of integration of the system will primarily be determined by speed and cost considerations. Because of the sophisticated nature of modern processors, it is possible to utilize a commercially available processor, which may be implemented external to an ASIC implementation of the present system. Alternatively, if the processor is available as an ASIC core or logic block, then the commercially available processor may be implemented as part of an ASIC device with various functions implemented as firmware. 
     The present invention may also be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer system is able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the present context may mean, for example, any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different material form. However, other meanings of computer program within the understanding of those skilled in the art are also contemplated by the present invention. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the present invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6