Digital Signatures without CPUs
VuillaumeThis new cost-effective authentication scheme will help prevent counterfeiting and data tampering across a wide range of products: everything from digital tickets such as admission tickets and gift coupons to memory cards for digital cameras and hand-held game consoles, cartridges for printers and other electronic gear, notebook computer batteries, and a host of other potential applications. There has always been some concern that using non-original equipment manufacturer or after-market replacement parts such as batteries in notebook computers could increase the risk of fire and other hazards. Here too a reliable authentication technology holds promise for preventing these kinds of risks. This technology should also prove effective for implementing digital rights management (DRM) over digital content on memory cards and other media. For example, if a user acquires digital content through legitimate means, the digital signature generated from the secret data on the memory card is sent to the music or video player (i.e., the verification device) to unlock and play the content. But if the content is downloaded illegally, it can't be authenticated or played because the correct digital signature cannot be generated.
Figure 7: Applications
Figure 8: Scenario: DRM for digital content
Related Links
Conference presentation reports written by researchers at SDL.
Technical terms related to research themes at SDL are explained.
