Embedded Hardware Keys for Data Scrambling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data security measures are vulnerable to hacking and reverse engineering due to the ease of detection and exploitation of software and hardware encryption keys.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of embedded hardware keys, comprising a series of fixed logic cells, is used in conjunction with software encryption algorithms like DES or Triple DES to enhance data security by making the encryption/decryption process more difficult to reverse engineer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If software encryption algorithms (DES or Triple DES) are used for data encryption, then data security is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to hacking and reverse engineering

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata securityVSAvoidvulnerability to hacking

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary hardware component (encrypted data bus and encrypted memory) between the software encryption layer and the data transmission/storage layer. This hardware intermediary applies additional encryption transformations to the already software-encrypted data, creating multiple layers of security that must be breached sequentially, thereby addressing the vulnerability of relying solely on software encryption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If a single hardware encryption key is used for encryption, then the encryption process is simple, but the key is easy to detect and reverse engineer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveencryption process complexityVSAvoidkey detection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the single hardware encryption key into multiple distinct keys (first hardware encryption key and second hardware encryption key). Each key is used in separate encryption stages, and the segmentation of the encryption process into multiple steps with different keys makes it significantly more difficult for attackers to detect and reverse engineer any single key, as each key only protects a portion of the data transformation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If data is encrypted using only software keys, then the system is easier to implement, but the encryption can be broken through software analysis

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem implementation easeVSAvoidencryption security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite encryption system that combines software encryption algorithms with hardware-based encryption mechanisms. The software layer provides structured encryption using standard algorithms (DES/Triple DES), while the hardware layer adds physical security through encrypted data buses and memory with additional hardware keys. This composite approach leverages the strengths of both software and hardware encryption to achieve security that neither could provide alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS7925896B2Hardware key encryption for data scrambling

Publication Date: 2011.04.12 TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC

AI summary

Apparatus and method to scramble data prior to placing it on a bus or in memory uses embedded hardware keys for encryption/decryption. The hardware keys may be used in addition to software encryption. Different hardware keys may be used to process most significant bits and least significant bits of a data word. Different hardware keys may be used to process messages from/to different channels. The hardware key may be comprise a series of fixed logic cells.