Cleartext Register File for Encrypted Data Processing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Encrypted data processing (EDAP) designs face performance slowdowns due to the cycle time added by decrypting and encrypting data for each instruction, which negatively impacts the overall execution speed and energy efficiency of computer systems.

Innovation Solution

Decoupling the traditional EDAP processing pipeline by storing cleartext data in register files, allowing only functional units to access and process it, thereby bypassing the need for decryption and encryption during register access and writeback, while maintaining encryption in cache and memory.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data is encrypted throughout the processing pipeline with decryption and encryption for each instruction, then data security is improved, but processing speed deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata securityVSAvoidprocessing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The processing pipeline is segmented into different security zones: the register file operates in cleartext mode while the cache and memory operate in encrypted mode. This segmentation allows functional units to access cleartext data quickly without encryption overhead, while still maintaining encrypted storage elsewhere in the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the processing pipeline have different encryption states. The register file and functional units operate with cleartext data for high-speed processing, while the cache and memory maintain encrypted data for security. This local quality differentiation optimizes both speed and security in their respective domains.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If decryption and encryption operations are performed for each instruction, then data protection is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata protectionVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The decryption and encryption operations are extracted from the regular instruction processing path. By maintaining cleartext data in the register file, the system eliminates the need for repeated decryption/encryption cycles during functional unit operations, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining protection through encrypted cache and memory storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If encryption and decryption cycles are added to each instruction, then data security is maintained, but execution time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata securityVSAvoidexecution time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Data is decrypted in advance when loaded from encrypted cache into the cleartext register file, before functional unit processing. This preliminary decryption action eliminates the need for repeated decryption during execution, reducing overall execution time while maintaining security through the encrypted-cache architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12008150B2Encrypted data processing design including cleartext register files

Publication Date: 2024.06.11 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to encrypted data processing (EDAP). Encrypted data from a cache to be loaded into a register file can be accessed. The encrypted data can be decrypted to receive cleartext data. The cleartext data can be written to the register file. The cleartext data can be processed using at least one functional unit to receive cleartext computation results. The cleartext computation results can then be written back to the register file.