How Remote Devices Prove They Have Not Been Tampered With
A system for a remote device to prove to a central server that its internal security processes are running correctly without exposing sensitive raw data.
Original patent title: “USRE46915E1 - Verification of process integrity”
A system for a remote device to prove to a central server that its internal security processes are running correctly without exposing sensitive raw data. Granted to Telit Automotive Solutions NV in 2018 with 21 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a way for a remote device, such as a vehicle tracker, to confirm its integrity to a server. The device processes input data using a secure, one-way hash function, which hides the actual content of the data while creating a unique fingerprint. This fingerprint is stored in a secure processor. When the server wants to check if the device is still secure, it sends a specific request. Only then does the device send back the stored fingerprint, allowing the server to verify that the device's security process hasn't been altered or bypassed.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover systems that send verification data automatically without a specific request from the server.
- Does not cover methods where the raw input data is sent directly to the server for verification.
- Does not cover security processes that do not use a secure processor to derive verification information.
- Does not cover general data encryption that does not involve a server-side integrity check of the device's internal process.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The system uses a 'pull' model for verification: the device remains silent until the server asks, and it only provides a cryptographic proof of its internal state rather than the sensitive data itself.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Connected vehicle telematics units
Remote industrial sensor arrays
Fleet management tracking hardware
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is essential for the Internet of Things (IoT) and connected vehicles. It allows fleet managers or manufacturers to ensure that hardware hasn't been hacked or modified by malicious actors, which is critical for safety-sensitive systems like GPS tracking or autonomous vehicle telemetry.
Filed
August 21, 2009
Granted
June 26, 2018
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Telit Automotive Solutions (now part of Telit Cinterion) remains a major player in the IoT and telematics space. Other companies like Bosch, Continental, and various automotive connectivity startups build similar integrity-checking protocols into their hardware modules.
Market impact
This patent reinforces the shift toward 'zero-trust' hardware architectures in the automotive sector. It helped standardize the expectation that remote vehicle units must be able to prove their own software integrity to a backend server to prevent large-scale fleet tampering.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a way for a remote device, such as a vehicle tracker, to confirm its integrity to a server. The device processes input data using a secure, one-way hash function, which hides the actual content of the data while creating a unique fingerprint. This fingerprint is stored in a secure processor. When the server wants to check if the device is still secure, it sends a specific request. Only then does the device send back the stored fingerprint, allowing the server to verify that the device's security process hasn't been altered or bypassed.
The clever bit
The system uses a 'pull' model for verification: the device remains silent until the server asks, and it only provides a cryptographic proof of its internal state rather than the sensitive data itself.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover systems that send verification data automatically without a specific request from the server.
- Does not cover methods where the raw input data is sent directly to the server for verification.
- Does not cover security processes that do not use a secure processor to derive verification information.
- Does not cover general data encryption that does not involve a server-side integrity check of the device's internal process.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
14/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$27K – $87K
Midpoint $55K · 3.2 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
21 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Motte, B., Peeters, M., Froidcoeur, T., & DEBAST, C. (2018). How Remote Devices Prove They Have Not Been Tampered With (U.S. Patent No. RE46,915). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE46915/google-photos
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Remote Devices Prove They Have Not Been Tampered With cover?
A system for a remote device to prove to a central server that its internal security processes are running correctly without exposing sensitive raw data.
Who owns patent US RE46915?
Telit Automotive Solutions NV owns this patent, granted in 2018.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on June 26, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is essential for the Internet of Things (IoT) and connected vehicles. It allows fleet managers or manufacturers to ensure that hardware hasn't been hacked or modified by malicious actors, which is critical for safety-sensitive systems like GPS tracking or autonomous vehicle telemetry.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover systems that send verification data automatically without a specific request from the server.
Patent monitoring