FPGA Configuration Encryption Using Unique Device Identifiers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The security of electronic circuit design is compromised as the information about the design is vulnerable to interception by unauthorized third parties, especially when the manufacturing is outsourced, allowing for unauthorized copying of products.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a unique identifier in electronic devices, where configuration information is encrypted and decrypted using this identifier, ensuring that the design can only be implemented on the specific device with the corresponding identifier, thus preventing unauthorized use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If configuration information is transmitted in plaintext for programming electronic devices, then the programming process is simple and fast, but the design information becomes vulnerable to interception and unauthorized copying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by encrypting the configuration information before transmission to the electronic device. The encryption is performed in advance during the configuration data preparation stage, so that when the data is transmitted and received, it is already in encrypted form, preventing interception and unauthorized copying during the transmission and programming process.
2Reliability
If configuration information is encrypted before transmission, then design security is improved, but the device requires decryption capability adding complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by implementing the decryption function within the electronic device itself. The device autonomously decrypts the received encrypted configuration information using its internal decryption logic, without requiring external assistance or complex operational steps from the user, thus maintaining ease of operation while ensuring security.
3Reliability
If unique identifier-based encryption is implemented, then unauthorized copying is prevented, but the manufacturing and configuration process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing unique identifier-based encryption where each electronic device has its own specific decryption capability tied to its unique identifier. This localized approach allows the same encryption scheme to be applied across multiple devices while maintaining individual security, preventing unauthorized copying without requiring completely different manufacturing processes for each device.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device takes the form of a programmable logic device, including logic resources whose functions and interconnections are dependent on the configuration information applied to the device. Each such electronic device is provided with a unique identifier. In order to implement a design of an electronic circuit on an electronic device, the configuration information that is required to cause the device to perform its desired function is encrypted before being applied to the device, and is decrypted on the device itself. The encryption process, and hence the required decryption, are based on the identifier, and hence are effectively unique to the particular device, so that the intended design can be implemented only by means of configuration information that is related to the unique identifier, and the configuration information cannot be applied to other devices to make unauthorized configured devices.