From Free60 Project

Adapted from my post at Xbox-scene http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=467050 The beauty of any new technology invented in the United States is that, when it is patented, the company must make all sorts of information about it public. MS must have tons of patents for the 360- and they are all available for public perusal. MS may try to obscure the information by not mentioning brand names directly, but it is obvious what they are referring to. All patents are viewable and searchable online, and are surprisingly specific.

Patents are searchable here: http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/search-adv.htm

TIP: Add an/MS to your query to limit results to MS patents. For example, search(without the quotes) "an/MS and game and console"

These are just a few examples- there are many more.

Patent Number	Title	Comments
6956947	Extraction of multiple single keys from a compressed key	very specific description of how Xbox Live content is encrypted
6907522	Use of hashing in a secure boot loader	(this one is about Xbox1 - look in the Exemplary System section: it mentions the NV2A graphics chip)
6938164	Method and system for allowing code to be securely initialized in a computer	(This looks promising. It explicitly mentions a hypervisor as one variety of trusted cores.)
6973444	Method for interdependently validating a digital content package and a corresponding digital license	(Speculated to relate to Xbox Live Content and Gamertag/Box Serial # licenses)
6961927	Lossless, context-free compression system and method	XEX compression algorithm ?
6910116	Game disk layout	Game Disc Layout/Security
6935959	Use of multiple player real-time voice communications on a gaming device	Voice communication

Not as interesting, but still obviously Xbox 360 related-

Patent Number	Title	Comments
6878067	Method and apparatus for creating and playing soundtracks in a gaming system	Playing custom soundtracks

Enter patent number in the search box to go directly to that patent. What else is there?

The Patent Office doesn't work that quick. Some 360 related technologies may not have been granted yet.

Use this link to search open applications: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html

European Database

EP1591151 (A2) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACCESSING SYSTEM SOFTWARE IN A GAMING CONSOLE SYSTEM VIA AN INPUT DEVICE http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=CA2505308&F=0

US2005262255 System applications in a multimedia console http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=US2005262255&F=0

US2005256845 Data management for a networked multimedia console http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=US2005256845&F=0

US2005164782 Method and apparatus for managing data in a gaming system (http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=US2005164782&F=0)

Astract

A gaming system includes a hard disk drive for storing applications and other data. The hard disk drive has multiple regions for storing different types of data. Each application executed on the gaming system has an associated storage area on the hard disk drive. A console application executing on the gaming system prevents a particular application from accessing data in an area of the hard disk drive that is not associated with the particular application. The gaming system also maintains a list of recently used nicknames to simplify entry of nicknames by a user of the gaming system.

US2005159218 Method and apparatus for creating and playing soundtracks in a gaming system (http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=US2005159218&F=0)

A gaming system includes a game console that executes an application that creates and plays soundtracks through the gaming system. The application allows a user to create soundtracks by copying audio tracks from one or more audio sources. A user-created soundtrack can be associated with a particular game such that the user-created soundtrack is played during execution of the game instead of the game's default soundtrack. During execution of a game, a user may change the soundtrack being played.

US2005129237 Architecture for manufacturing authenticatable gaming systems (http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=US2005129237&F=0)

An architecture is described to manufacture console-based gaming systems in a manner that allows them to be authenticated to a remote entity for online participation. The architecture involves placing pre-established secrets on the game console during console manufacturing that may be subsequently used to guarantee the authenticity of the game console during registration time.

US2005138270: Use of hashing in a secure boot loader (http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=US2005138270&F=0)

Machine instructions comprising a bootstrap code are buried within a critical component of an electronic game console where they cannot readily be accessed or modified. A preloader portion in a read only memory (ROM) is hashed by the bootstrap code and the result is compared to an expected hash value maintained in the bootstrap code. Further verification of the boot-up process is carried out by the preloader, which hashes the code in ROM to obtain a hash value for the code. The result is verified against a digital signature value that defines an expected value for this hash. Failure to obtain any expected result terminates the boot-up process. Since the bootstrap code confirms the preloader, and the preloader confirms the remainder of the code in ROM, this technique is useful for ensuring that the code used for booting up the device has not been modified or replaced.

US2005113169 Banning verbal communication to and from a selected party in a game playing system (http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=US2005113169&F=0)

Voice communication between players using one or more multiplayer game console is selectively controlled. A player may selectively block voice communications with another player during a current and any future games. In addition, an authorized party (e.g., a parent) can selectively preclude voice communication by a minor child by setting an option that is uploaded to an online game service service; the minor child is then precluded from voice communication on any voice console via the online game service. Also, a player may be temporarily or permanently banned from voice communication during games played through an online game service in response to complaints made by other players concerning the player's behavior in voice communication while playing games, e.g., excessive use of profanity. When a player signs on to the online game service, data are downloaded to the game console that indicate any applicable restraints on voice communication.

JP2004329950: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING GAME DATA (http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=JP2004329950&F=0)

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and apparatus for handling game data. SOLUTION: A recorded race is downloaded from an online game service. The recorded race is associated with a game program. The game program is launched on a game console. The recorded race is applied to the game program executed on the game console such that the recorded race controls a first vehicle moving through a course. Control inputs are received from an input device coupled to the game console. The control inputs control a second vehicle moving through the course.

JP2003224560: METHOD FOR NETWORK ARCHITECTURE FOR GAMING SYSTEM, GAME CONSOLE THEREFOR, SYSTEM THEREFOR AND RECORDING MEDIUM (http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=JP2003224560&F=0)

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform secure communication among multiple game consoles over a local area network. SOLUTION: The system architecture supports a three-phase secure communication protocol. The first phase involves generating shared keys that are unique to an authentic game console running an authentic game title. In the second phase, 'client' consoles 100-2 to 1002-g attempt to discover existing game sessions being hosted by a 'host' game console 100-1 by broadcasting a request over the local area network. The third phase involves a key exchange in which the clients 100-2 to 1002-g and the host console 100-1 exchange data used to derive one or more secrets for securing future communications.