CXL Memory Key-ID Check Using XOR and Parity Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing memory systems require additional memory space to store key identifiers for security encryption, leading to inefficiencies and potential confusion between security access blocks and uncorrectable errors.

Innovation Solution

Implement a key identifier check mechanism in a Compute Express Link (CXL) memory device that performs computations on data and key IDs to reduce the size of the stored data, using XOR operations to integrate key IDs without extra memory space, and includes parity data for error detection and correction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If key identifiers are stored separately in memory space, then data security is improved, but memory space efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata securityVSAvoidmemory space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the key identifier with the data by performing an XOR computation between them, storing only the result in the memory array. This eliminates the need for separate key identifier storage space while maintaining security, as the original data can be recovered by XORing the stored result with the key identifier during read operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary computation (XOR operation) that transforms the key identifier and data into a combined form suitable for storage. This intermediary process allows the system to achieve both security and space efficiency by using the computational result as the stored representation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If key identifiers are integrated into data using XOR operations, then memory space efficiency is improved, but difficulty in detecting security access issues versus uncorrectable errors increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory spaceVSAvoiderror detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the XOR computation result into two functional parts: the upper bits serve as the stored key identifier representation and the lower bits function as error detection code. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve space efficiency and maintain error detection capability, as each segment serves a specific purpose in the overall system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the XOR computation result multi-functional by using it simultaneously for security (key identifier representation) and error detection (parity generation). This universal approach allows a single stored value to fulfill multiple system requirements, eliminating the need for separate structures for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250383815A1Key identifier check in a compute express link (CXL) memory device

Publication Date: 2025.12.18 MICRON TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

A system can include a memory device; and a processing device, operatively coupled with the memory device, to perform operations including: receiving a write command comprising first data and a first key identifier; performing a first computation on the first data and the first key identifier to generate second data; storing the second data in the memory device; and storing a parity value of the second data in the memory device.