Automotive Microcontroller Configuration Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Future micro-controllers in automotive applications face increased complexity due to rising functionalities and stringent operational constraints, making it difficult to distinguish between safety and security faults, particularly in scenarios like Car2X and autonomous driving, where ensuring safe operation while preventing malicious attacks is crucial.
Innovation Solution
A processing system with a configuration module that reads configuration data from non-volatile memory, verifies its integrity, and activates different operation modes (normal, error, reset, safe secure, and diagnostic) based on mode configuration data, ensuring safety and security by managing hardware blocks and diagnostic modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If configuration data are stored in non-volatile memory for safety and security verification, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional verification and mode management mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by verifying configuration data integrity before the microcontroller operates. The configuration module reads and verifies configuration data from non-volatile memory during startup, checking for corruption or tampering before allowing normal operation. This preemptive verification ensures reliability by preventing faulty or malicious code execution, while the automated nature of the verification minimizes the complexity burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration module serves as an intermediary between the non-volatile memory and the microcontroller's operational modes. It mediates the transition between different operation modes (normal, safe secure, diagnostic, reset) based on configuration data verification results. This intermediary layer centralizes the complexity of safety and security management, protecting the core microcontroller while providing structured mode transitions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple operation modes are implemented for fault management, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in distinguishing between safety and security faults
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments fault management into distinct operation modes: normal mode for standard operation, safe secure mode for suspected security threats, diagnostic mode for system testing, and reset mode for critical failures. Each mode has specific activation conditions and behaviors. This segmentation provides adaptability by allowing the system to respond appropriately to different fault types, while the automated mode selection based on configuration data verification reduces the operational burden on users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through automated monitoring and mode transitions. The configuration module continuously verifies configuration data and automatically transitions between operation modes based on verification results. This feedback mechanism eliminates the need for manual fault classification, improving ease of operation while maintaining high adaptability through responsive mode changes.
3Reliability
If configuration data verification is performed before operation, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases during startup due to additional verification steps
Solution Approach 1:
Configuration data verification is performed as a preliminary action during the microcontroller's startup sequence, before normal operation begins. The configuration module reads configuration data from non-volatile memory and verifies its integrity during the initialization phase. This timing ensures reliability by catching configuration errors early, while the verification is optimized to complete quickly as part of the mandatory startup process, minimizing additional time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a processing system includes at least one hardware block configured to change operation as a function of configuration data, a non-volatile memory including the configuration data for the at least one hardware block, and a configuration module configured to read the configuration data from the non-volatile memory and provide the configuration data read from the non-volatile memory to the at least one hardware block. The configuration module is configured to: receive mode configuration data; read the configuration data from the non-volatile memory; test whether the configuration data contain errors by verifying whether the configuration data are corrupted and/or invalid; and activate a normal operation mode or an error operation mode based on whether the configuration data contain or do not contain errors.