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Watermarking Based Intellectual Property Protection

Technology Benefits

The new UC technology provides the following benefits: Marking system is readable in both a soft configuration at a logical level and at a soft physical level; Does not affect device performance or delay design cycle or production; Simplifies the documentation process.

Technology Application

This new invention has applications in the semiconductor design industry.

Detailed Technology Description

Scientists at the University of California have developed a new "digital watermarking" method for VC providers to prove ownership of their designs. Unlike conventional methods that add data to the product to identify it, this new technology provides a means of uniquely marking virtual components without adding anything to the design.

Supplementary Information

Patent Number: US7017043B1
Application Number: US2000528522A
Inventor: Potkonjak, Miodrag
Priority Date: 19 Mar 1999
Priority Number: US7017043B1
Application Date: 20 Mar 2000
Publication Date: 21 Mar 2006
IPC Current: H04L000900 | G06F000945
US Class: 713176 | 713181 | 716121 | 716122 | 726032 | 716010
Assignee Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
Title: Methods and systems for the identification of circuits and circuit designs
Usefulness: Methods and systems for the identification of circuits and circuit designs
Summary: For adding digital watermark including signature over intellectual property such as circuit design, software, database, multimedia, system architecture, chemical compositions, drug, algorithm, gene sequence, biotechnology, etc.
Novelty: Method for adding digital watermark to circuit design, involves generating watermark signature embedded in functional portion of circuit design, by preventing logic minimization occurrence

Industry

Biomedical

Sub Category

DNA/Gene Engineering

Application No.

7017043

Others

BACKGROUND

In the past in the semiconductor industry, circuit designers and process engineers worked together at the same company. However, companies are now specializing in either design or processing. As a result, systems are being built from pre-designed, or virtual components (VCs). Reuse of VCs saves time and money by implementing proven functions into new designs and, when licensed legitimately, is beneficial to both the licensee and the designer. However, billions of dollars are lost each year by the unauthorized use of VCs. As a result, VC designers need a way to protect and verify the use of their designs.

Tech ID/UC Case

10137/1999-259-0

Related Cases

1999-259-0

*Abstract

None

*IP Issue Date

Mar 21, 2006

*Principal Investigator

Name: Miodrag Potkonjak

Department:

Country/Region

USA