Sample Project List
Software Reverse Engineering
Product Project Objective Analysis Performed Automotive Electronic power
steering
Perform software code extraction and live software analysis with ICE to analyze patent claims.
Used eval board and extracted software from MCU. Replaced CPU with in-circuit emulator.
Executed software and performed live code analysis, inspection of memories and instructions during operation. Analyzed extracted code and mapped to patent claims.
Embedded flash memory
Determine the sequence of signals used in a memory during certain functions.
Circuit reverse engineering was used to
determine probe locations. The circuit was then stimulated under software control to determine the sequences of signals applied.
Inkjet printer software
Extract code from a device and monitor functionality.
The data was read out from the device. The bus protocol was analyzed to determine how to extract the data and create a file containing the raw data.
Laptop computers Reverse engineer software for a device driver and produce a claim chart.
Performed functional testing and probing of USB interface, followed by software reverse engineering (disassemble, decompile, live debugging, and analysis) to map claim elements.
Laptop computers Extract and inspect embedded code from a controller.
Circuit reverse engineering was used to find the security and understand how to defeat it.
Microsurgery was then performed to defeat the security.
PC application software
Determine if a particular set of data structures and access methods are used.
We observed the hardware and software, created and applied test cases, and performed data retrieval, inspection, and reconstruction.
Computing
Software applications
Functional testing to investigate multiple video patents.
Generated test video input. Captured and inspected video output created by the software
Software
The following describes select software reverse engineering projects we have performed to evaluate patents and document evidence of use to support patent licensing across different industries.
Product Project Objective Analysis Performed
Consumer Electronics
Audio compression code
Analyze algorithm based on source code. Inspection of available source code.
Audio file analysis Determine which flags were set for different encoding rates.
Software was installed on a computer to analyze audio files and to also create test files.
Download security Map patent to the dominant market technologies, and the companies that use them. Deliver claim charts against these targets.
Grouped patents into technology categories and researched applicable markets and potential target companies within those markets. Recommended and procured target products. Applied the patents to product literature, specifications and the results of functional testing.
DVD player Determine how decoding of DVD data was done in a target system.
Created a test DVD with specific and known data. The disc was analyzed and then compared to how the target system responded to the DVD data.
DVD player Determine what code was executed during different events.
A logic analyzer was used to capture addresses and data read from memory during specific events. The addresses were then sorted and compiled.
Firmware analysis Extract firmware code and determine when/where the code was used in the system.
Board reverse engineering was done to determine which chips were connected to the flash memory. A target chip was monitored doing start up to determine if code was loaded to this chip along with other chips.
Game console Identify BitBLT synchronized with video. Data and code retrieval, observation of hardware.
Consumer Electronics
Movie editor/viewer Deliver claim charts documenting methods for removing and inserting images into a movie stream.
Created custom video stream. Observed edit and play movie features using target product. Used screenshots of displayed and output video to support interpolated frames, and show where frames were removed.
MPEG4 part 2 standard
Create flowchart and provide comments of portions of the published software that are documented in the standard.
Performed software analysis of target routines and variables and created flowchart.
Multimedia codecs Identify video MPEG2 program and transport stream software and hardware components.
Observation (software), Windows DirectX SDK was used.
Portable audio Determine if invention is used in target products.
Literature was used to analyze target audio formats and map claim elements.
Smartphone touch
pad operation
Provide claim chart documenting method implementing touch pad operation.
Access smartphone processor through JTAG interface to extract code. Decompile code. Gain control of CPU to interactively analyze code in operation to find claim elements.
ADSL2 power management
Develop claim charts reading patent on standards.
Analysis of ITU-T ADSL2 specification G.992.3 (asymmetric digital subscriber line transceivers 2 [ADSL2]) and ITU-T G.994.1 (handshake procedures for digital
subscriber line [DSL] transceivers).
Wired
Communications
ATM protocols Develop claim charts reading patent on standards.
Analysis of applicable ATM specifications:
ATM UNI 3.1 and ATM IMA specification
Software
The following describes select software reverse engineering projects we have performed to evaluate patents and document evidence of use to support patent licensing across different industries.
Product Project Objective Analysis Performed
Cable set-top box Determine specific processing in STB of video transmitted from cable headend.
Create custom video stream. Inject video into various locations in the STB datapath.
Alternatively, inject video as a 6 MHz digital bin of a broadcast transmissions stream from the cable service provider. Analyze output video of STB relative to customer video input.
Wired
Communications
Gaming system chat feature
Determine audio codec used by gaming system to encode voice over the internet.
Set up gaming consoles. Sniff internet traffic to determine session setup and termination. Analyze traffic payload of voice and tones to investigate codec.
Wireless
Communications
Cell phone Perform patent and product analysis involving mobile phone data compression algorithm against the V.42bis standard.
Used development board to access target software, extract, decompile, and analyze it. Gained control of processor using JTAG port. Used live software debugging to aid in analysis or algorithm variables and
functions.
patent licensing and litigation – earning hundreds of millions of dollars in patent licenses, and saving as much in royalty payments. Research
& Development and Product Management rely on Chipworks for success in new product design and launch, saving hundreds of millions of dollars in design, and earning even more through superior product design and faster launches.
Contact Chipworks
Chipworks
3685 Richmond Road, Suite 500 Ottawa, Ontario K2H 5B7
Canada
T 1-613-829-0414 F 1-613-829-0515
Email: [email protected] Web site: www.chipworks.com
