Robert H Best

US Patent:

42788374, Jul 14, 1981

Filed:

Jun 4, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/044952

Inventors:

Robert M. Best - Seattle WA

International Classification:

H04L 900

US Classification:

178 2209

Abstract:

A microprocessor for executing computer programs which are stored in cipher to prevent software piracy. Such a crypto-microprocessor deciphers the enciphered program piecemeal as it executes it, so that a large enciphered program can be securely executed without disclosing the deciphered program or associated data to persons who have access to the wiring of the computer in which the crypto-microprocessor is a component. Such a device may process valuable proprietary programs and data files which are distributed in cipher on videodiscs, semiconductor memory, or other media without risk of software piracy. Various methods of encryption may be used including methods which result in the cipher of a byte being a complicated function of the byte's address in memory. Each crypto-microprocessor chip may use a unique cipher key or tables for deciphering the program, so that a program that can be executed in one chip cannot be run in any other microprocessor.

US Patent:

53930738, Feb 28, 1995

Filed:

May 25, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/066204

Inventors:

Robert M. Best - Seattle WA

International Classification:

A63F 922

US Classification:

273434

Abstract:

Talking video games can provide simulated voice dialog between human players and animated characters on a TV screen. Two or more players can take turns responding to animated characters and two or more animated characters can respond to each player and to each other, thereby providing three-way or four-way conversations. Pictures and voices are generated from digital data separately stored on a laser-readable disk such as a CD-ROM in compressed form. As the game is played each animated character talks to the human game players and waits for a response. Each player has a hand-held controller that displays two or more phrases or sentences and a player responds by pressing a button next to a selected phrase. An animated character then responds to the selected phrase as if it had been spoken by the human player. Speech recognition is not required.

US Patent:

45690260, Feb 4, 1986

Filed:

Oct 31, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/666921

Inventors:

Robert M. Best - Seattle WA

International Classification:

G11B 3100
G06F 1544
G10L 100

US Classification:

364521

Abstract:

A video entertainment system by which human viewers conduct simulated voice conversations with screen actors or cartoon characters in a branching story game shown on a television screen. The actors and cartoon characters reply responsively with lip-sync sound to words spoken by viewers. Different audio and video frames are generated from a videodisc and data memory to provide one of several alternative replies or alternative actions at each branch point in the game, depending on what the viewer says to a speech-recognition unit. A simple speech-recognition unit can be used because the number of words to be recognized at each branch point is restricted to just a few words. A menu of prompting words is displayed on a hand-held unit to inform viewers of what words they can use at each branch point. The prompting words are programmed to be phonetically distinct to be easily distinguishable from each other. Viewers can input questions or make other remarks by speaking a displayed code word which stands for a whole sentence.

US Patent:

53582594, Oct 25, 1994

Filed:

Oct 21, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/140266

Inventors:

Robert M. Best - Bellevue WA

International Classification:

A63F 922

US Classification:

273434

Abstract:

Talking video games can provide simulated voice dialog between human players and animated characters on a TV screen. Two or more players can take turns responding to animated characters and two or more animated characters can respond to each player and to each other, thereby providing three-way or four-way conversations. Pictures and voices are generated from digital data separately stored on a laser-readable disk such as a CD-ROM in compressed form. As the game is played each animated character talks to the human game players and waits for a response. Each player has a hand-held controller that displays two or more phrases or sentences and a player responds by pressing a button next to a selected phrase. An animated character then responds to the selected phrase as if it had been spoken by the human player. Speech recognition is not required.

US Patent:

44332076, Feb 21, 1984

Filed:

Sep 10, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/300797

Inventors:

Robert M. Best - Seattle WA

International Classification:

H04L 900

US Classification:

178 2209

Abstract:

An integrated circuit decoder for providing microcomputer users with access to several proprietary programs selected from a large group of such programs that have been distributed to users in cipher. The decoder chip can decipher a program if an enciphered key called a "permit code" is presented to the decoder chip. Permit codes are not interchangeable between decoders, are issued only to customers that have paid for use of a program product, and each code will work only with one program. As the program is being deciphered in a user's microcomputer, the decoder chip places random errors into the program which make copies of the program malfunction in other microcomputers. The decoder chip keeps a table of addresses where it has placed errors and dynamically corrects the errors on the data bus whenever an error word is addressed during execution. Using such a decoder, thousands of individually priced proprietary software products can be delivered securely to prospective customers in advance of sales on laserdiscs, diskettes, TV-cables, and digital radio broadcasts.

US Patent:

53930703, Feb 28, 1995

Filed:

May 5, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/057945

Inventors:

Robert M. Best - Bellevue WA

International Classification:

A63F 922

US Classification:

273434

Abstract:

Talking video games can provide simulated voice dialogs between human players and animated characters on a video screen. When two or more characters are in two different scenes, the animated picture may alternate between the two scenes to give an illusion that the actions in both scenes are happening simultaneously. A character in one scene talks with a character in the other scene who then may talk back. Each scene branches to two or more subsequent scenes. But within each scene there are several branching dialog sequences, thereby providing a large variety of possible dialogs. Scenes are separated in space or in time. The characters may be shown talking with each other through a voice communication apparatus such as a telephone or two-way radio or through an opening in a wall such as a window or door. Each player has a hand-held controller that displays two or more phrases or actions. A player responds by pressing a button next to a selected phrase or action.

US Patent:

41683960, Sep 18, 1979

Filed:

Oct 31, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/846638

Inventors:

Robert M. Best - Seattle WA

International Classification:

H04L 900

US Classification:

178 22

Abstract:

A microprocessor for executing computer programs which have been enciphered during manufacture to deter the execution of the programs in unauthorized computers. This microprocessor deciphers and executes an enciphered program one instruction at a time, through a combination of substitutions, transpositions, and exclusive-OR additions, in which the address of each instruction is combined with the instruction. Each unit may use a unique set of substitutions so that a program that can be executed in one microprocessor can not be run in any other microprocessor.

US Patent:

43190790, Mar 9, 1982

Filed:

Jan 17, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/113071

Inventors:

Robert M. Best - Seattle WA

International Classification:

H04L 900

US Classification:

178 2209

Abstract:

A cryptographic microprocessor for processing data and executing programs which are stored in enciphered blocks to prevent unauthorized alteration and copying. Such a "crypto-microprocessor" deciphers the enciphered program and data blocks piecemeal as execution of the deciphered program proceeds. A product block cipher circuit makes each bit of a deciphered block a complicated function of each bit of an enciphered block, and each bit of an encryption key, and each bit of the digital address of the enciphered block. Combined use of block and byte deciphering is described. If a block of the enciphered program is altered, the crypto-microprocessor temporarily or permanently disables itself.