Date: 18/10/2011

CRI licenses its DPA patents to a mobile device maker

Cryptography Research, Inc. (CRI), a division of Rambus Inc. has signed a license agreement with a smartphone and tablet manufacturer for the use of CRI's Differential Power Analysis (DPA) countermeasures patents. Under the agreement, ongoing royalties will be paid for the use of CRI's patented innovations. Specific terms of the agreement and disclosure of the manufacturer are confidential.

"Consumers increasingly rely on their smartphones and tablets to perform financial transactions, store personal data and access premium content," said Paul Kocher, president and chief scientist of Cryptography Research. "Our DPA countermeasures technology is a key part of securing mobile devices to safeguard the data of consumers and content providers worldwide."

CRI defines that Differential Power Analysis (DPA) is a form of attack that involves monitoring variations in electrical power consumption of a target device and then uses advanced statistical methods to derive cryptographic keys or other secrets. Strong countermeasures to DPA are important for securing mobile devices, bankcards, pay television systems, secure identity products, secure storage media, and other electronic systems and components.

Cryptography Research has developed a portfolio of more than 55 patents covering countermeasures to DPA attacks, with additional patent applications pending worldwide.