ARM Server BIOS LPC Bus Dynamic Alignment for TCM Communication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
China's reliance on foreign Trusted Platform Module (TPM) technology compromises its information security, necessitating an independent trusted computer technology system, particularly in cryptographic algorithms, to ensure national information security and competitiveness.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for supporting Trusted Cryptography Module (TCM) communication by modifying the access alignment mode of the LPC bus in a BIOS of an ARM server, allowing data communication with a TCM chip through setting the LPC bus device to a 4-byte alignment read-write mode and switching to single-byte alignment for specific FIFO registers as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If 4-byte alignment read-write mode is used for LPC bus device, then communication efficiency with TCM chip is improved, but compatibility with specific FIFO registers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching of the LPC bus access mode between 4-byte alignment and single-byte alignment based on the specific register being accessed. The BIOS detects the register type and adjusts the alignment mode accordingly, allowing the system to optimize for communication efficiency when accessing general registers while maintaining compatibility when accessing specific FIFO registers that require single-byte alignment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If single-byte alignment read-write mode is used for LPC bus device, then compatibility with FIFO registers is improved, but communication efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the alignment mode based on the specific register being accessed. For FIFO registers that require single-byte alignment, the mode is switched to maintain compatibility, while for other registers, the mode is set to 4-byte alignment to maximize communication efficiency. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between compatibility and efficiency.
3Reliability
If TCM communication is implemented on ARM server platform, then national information security independence is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the access alignment mode parameter of the LPC bus device as a key technical means to enable TCM communication on the ARM server platform. By changing this specific parameter (alignment mode) rather than redesigning the entire communication architecture, the system achieves secure TCM communication while minimizing the increase in system complexity. The modification is localized to the BIOS level and does not require fundamental changes to the hardware architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for supporting TCM communication by a BIOS of an ARM server, including: setting an access mode of a LPC bus device to a 4-byte mode by means of a BIOS of an ARM server; causing the BIOS to perform data communication with a TCM chip of the LPC bus device in the 4-byte mode; in response to the BIOS reading a register by means of the LPC bus device, determining a type of the register; in response to determining that the type of the register is a specific FIFO register, changing a control register from the 4-byte mode to a single-byte mode, and performing single-byte read-write on the specific FIFO register; and in response to completion of read-write of the specific FIFO register, changing the control register to the 4-byte mode by means of the BIOS, and performing a read-write operation on other FIFO registers.