Fuse Array Device Identification via Hash Generator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional device identifications can be tampered with or copied, compromising network security, as they are not inherently tied to the physical state of the device, making it difficult to prevent malicious access.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a fuse array-based identification system where the state of fuses, permanently altered during manufacturing or quality control, generates a unique identification number through a hash generator, making it difficult to alter the identification after the device is manufactured.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional device identification stored in a register is used, then device identification is simple and easy to implement, but the identification can be tampered with or copied by malicious actors
Solution Approach 1:
The fuse array is programmed during manufacturing to permanently encode the device identification before the device is deployed. This preliminary action ensures the identification cannot be changed later, preventing tampering while keeping the operational system relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hash generator as an intermediary component that processes the fuse array state to produce the final device identification. This mediator ensures that even if the fuse array is complex, the identification generation process remains manageable and secure.
2Reliability
If device identification is assigned during manufacturing, then the identification is inherent to the device, but malicious actors can still re-write or copy the identification
Solution Approach 1:
The device identification system is segmented into two independent parts: the fuse array that stores the permanent identification and the hash generator that processes it. This segmentation allows the identification to be inherently tied to the device during manufacturing while preventing later modification, as the fuse array cannot be re-written.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the identification storage from volatile (register) to permanent (fuse array). This parameter change ensures the identification is established during manufacturing and cannot be altered, providing tamper resistance while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.
3Reliability
If a unique physical state is used for device identification, then the identification cannot be copied, but the complexity of generating and managing the identification increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex cryptographic mechanisms with a simpler physical mechanism - the fuse array. Instead of using complex algorithms to generate unique identifiers, the system uses the physical state of fuses (blown or unblown) during manufacturing, which naturally provides uniqueness without requiring complex generation logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a hash generator to create a digital representation of the fuse array state. This hash serves as a copyable yet secure identification that uniquely represents the physical fuse configuration, allowing the unique physical state to be utilized without directly managing the complexity of the fuse array itself.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for fuse based device identification. A device may include a number of fuses which are used to encode permanent information on the device. The device may receive an identification request, and may generate an identification number based on the states of at least a portion of the fuses. For example, the device may include a hash generator, which may generate the identification number by using the fuse information as a seed for a hash algorithm.