Memory Controller Data Read Verification Method

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Solution Overview

Problem

Data is vulnerable to tampering and leakage during the data reading process due to attackers intercepting address information on data buses, compromising data security.

Innovation Solution

A data reading method involving a controller performing multiple read operations on the same address and random read operations on different addresses, with consistency checks and alarm generation for inconsistencies, to ensure data integrity and security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple read operations are performed on the same address to detect tampering, then data security is improved, but reading time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoidreading time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary validation by executing multiple read operations on the same address before returning data to the requester. This preliminary action of reading multiple times and comparing results ensures data integrity is verified in advance, preventing tampered data from being returned, thus improving reliability without significantly impacting overall system performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If random read operations are inserted between consecutive reads, then tampering detection capability is improved, but operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetampering detection capabilityVSAvoidoperational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The read operation sequence is segmented into multiple individual read operations rather than a single bulk read. Between these segmented read operations, random read operations are inserted as additional validation steps. This segmentation allows the system to detect tampering at multiple points in the sequence, improving detection capability while managing complexity through structured operation breakdown.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Random read operations serve as intermediary validation steps between the primary read operations on the target address. These intermediary operations read random memory locations and compare their expected values against actual values, providing additional tampering detection without directly interfering with the primary data retrieval function, thus balancing reliability improvement with acceptable operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If data consistency verification is performed, then data integrity is improved, but processing speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs a partial verification by conducting multiple read operations and comparing results, but only to the extent necessary to detect tampering. The verification process reads data multiple times and compares for consistency, providing sufficient integrity checking without performing exhaustive analysis that would significantly slow down processing. This partial verification approach balances data integrity improvement with acceptable processing speed maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3321806B1Data reading method and memory
Publication Date: 2023.05.31 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3321806B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3321806B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3321806B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention discloses a data reading method, including: receiving, by a controller of a memory, a read operation request carrying a first address, where the read operation request is used to instruct the controller to perform a read operation on the first address; performing, by the controller of the memory, N read operations on the first address, and obtaining N pieces of data read by the N read operations; and determining, by the controller of the memory, whether the N pieces of data are consistent; and if the controller determines that the N pieces of data are consistent, sending, by the controller, response information used to respond to the read operation request, where the response information includes any one of the N pieces of data. Embodiments of the present invention further provide a memory. The embodiments of the present invention help resolve the problem that data is tampered with and leaked when the memory reads the data.