Memory Controller Key Rotation During Idle Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory systems face vulnerabilities due to infrequent key rotation, which increases the time hackers have to discover encryption scrambling functions, leading to potential data unscrambling, and this process is resource-intensive and disruptive to normal operations.
Innovation Solution
A memory system with a memory controller that performs key rotation during idle cycles, allowing for continuous memory access by pausing and resuming rekeying operations, using a boundary address register to track progress and select appropriate encryption keys for data access requests.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If key rotation is performed frequently to enhance security, then data security is improved, but resource consumption increases and normal memory operations are disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic key rotation by making the rekeying process adaptable to system conditions. The rekeying operation dynamically pauses when memory access requests are detected and resumes during idle cycles, allowing the system to balance security requirements with operational continuity based on real-time workload conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic key rotation by performing rekeying operations during idle cycles of the memory controller. Instead of continuous rekeying that would disrupt operations, the system periodically updates encryption keys only when the memory controller is not actively processing memory access requests, maintaining both security and operational efficiency.
2Productivity
If key rotation is performed during idle cycles to maintain operations, then memory operation continuity is improved, but key rotation frequency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares for key rotation by monitoring the memory controller's state and identifying idle cycles in advance. The rekeying operation is scheduled to execute during these pre-identified idle periods, ensuring that key rotation can occur without disrupting ongoing memory operations while still maintaining security through periodic updates.
3Productivity
If rekeying operation is paused during memory access requests, then memory operation continuity is improved, but rekeying time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by ensuring that memory access operations continue uninterrupted during active cycles. The rekeying operation is designed to pause during memory access requests and resume during idle cycles, allowing both memory operations and key rotation to proceed without unnecessary delays or interruptions to either process.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with rotating keys for a memory are described. According to one embodiment, a memory system comprises a memory controller configured to control access to a memory and to process memory access requests. Rekeying logic is configured to rotate a first key that was used to scramble data in the memory and re-scramble the data with a second key by: determining when the memory controller is in an idle cycle and performing a rekeying operation on a portion of the memory during the idle cycle, and pausing the rekeying operation when the memory controller is not in an idle cycle to allow memory access requests to be performed and resuming the rekeying operation during a next idle cycle.