Dennis Chung Mak

US Patent:

59784768, Nov 2, 1999

Filed:

Aug 11, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/908084

Inventors:

Scott Redman - Fremont CA
Dennis Mak - Mountain View CA
Richard Terrill - Santa Clara CA

Assignee:

Altera Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H04L 932
H04L 900

US Classification:

380 4

Abstract:

A computerized system restricts full revelation of certain information to a user, while also performing limited processing of the information for the user for evaluation. The information is encrypted and therefore may be widely distributed without fear of revelation. An authorization code from the user specifies the type(s) of processing that are permitted, wherein different types of processing produce different type(s) of output that reveal to different degrees the information. The type(s) of output include output which represent more than mere reproduction of the information. A particularly appropriate implementation of the present invention is in the area of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) for logic design.