Centralized IC Identification Codes for Secure Low-Cost Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing integrated circuit (IC) security solutions are vulnerable to hacking and costly due to the use of secure microcontrollers and programmable memories, making them unsuitable for high-volume applications.

Innovation Solution

A centralized code registration system that separates identification codes and operator keys, using a mathematical operation to generate unique identifiers, which are stored in a secure database, allowing verification without securing the codes themselves, thus reducing costs and enhancing security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If identification codes are stored locally in each IC component, then fast identification is achieved, but security risks increase due to potential theft or misuse

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification speedVSAvoidsecurity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The identification code is extracted from the IC component itself and stored externally in a centralized database on a server. This separation allows the component to operate without storing sensitive identification data, eliminating security risks while maintaining fast identification through local query capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A centralized database server acts as an intermediary between IC components and the identification system. The server stores and manages all identification codes, providing a secure centralized repository that components can query without storing codes locally, thus balancing security requirements with identification speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If identification codes are stored in a centralized database, then security is improved, but identification speed decreases due to network dependency

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoididentification speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by establishing communication protocols and cache mechanisms in advance. The reader can quickly query the centralized database using pre-established connections, and the system can pre-process identification requests to minimize network latency, thus maintaining fast identification while using centralized storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If each IC component has its own identification storage, then component autonomy is maintained, but system complexity increases for managing distributed codes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent autonomyVSAvoidcode management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the identification code storage function from individual IC components into a single centralized database. This consolidation eliminates the complexity of managing distributed code storage across numerous components while maintaining component autonomy, as each component still operates independently but queries the unified central repository for identification data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4158507B1Centralized handling of IC identification codes
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 SANDGRAIN BV
  • EP4158507B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4158507B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4158507B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

The invention relates to a method of generating and authenticating guaranteed unique identifier codes (CID) as may be used for identifying and authenticating assets comprising an integrated circuit, the method comprising; generating guaranteed unique identifiers (AID) in a centralized code registration system (3); storing the generated identifiers (AID) within a data storage (31a-31c); associating each identifier (AID) with an unique identification (CID) to be used for identifying an integrated circuit, by applying a bijective algorithm; authenticating an identification code (CID) by inversely calculating an identifier (AID) from an identification code (CID)based on said algorithm.