Memory Device Access Control via Mapping Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory devices lack the capability to manage different access authorities for multiple users, compromising data security when various users access the same memory device.
Innovation Solution
A memory device with a non-volatile memory array and a memory control circuit that utilizes a mapping circuit to store mapping information, allowing for the management of access keys and secured memory zones, ensuring that only authorized users can access specific memory zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a memory device allows multiple users to access the same memory array, then the ease of operation and versatility are improved, but the data security and access control capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The memory array is divided into multiple secured memory zones, each with its own access control list. This segmentation allows different users to be granted access to specific zones based on their authorization, enabling multi-user access while maintaining data security through zone-isolated access control.
Solution Approach 2:
An access control circuit is introduced as an intermediary between users and the memory array. This circuit maintains access control lists that map users to authorized memory zones and performs authorization checks before allowing access, thus enabling versatile multi-user access while ensuring data security through centralized access management.
2Reliability
If access control mechanisms are implemented for different users, then the data security is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The access control functionality is merged with the memory control circuit, integrating access control lists and authorization logic into the existing memory control structure. This merging approach enables data security through comprehensive access control while avoiding the need for separate complex access control hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The memory control circuit is designed to perform both memory control functions and access control functions. By making the control circuit universal, it can handle both data access operations and security verification operations, thus improving data security without requiring additional dedicated access control hardware that would increase device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If mapping information is stored in a mapping circuit for access control, then the access authority management is improved, but the device complexity and memory usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
Access control lists and mapping information are pre-configured and stored in the mapping circuit before runtime operations. User authorizations and memory zone mappings are established in advance, enabling easy access authority management during operation while avoiding the need for complex real-time computation or dynamic reconfiguration circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The mapping information is stored as structured data in the mapping circuit, creating a simplified representation of user-authorizations and memory-zone mappings. This copied and structured information enables efficient lookup and verification operations, improving ease of access authority management while keeping the mapping circuit structure relatively simple through data-oriented rather than logic-oriented implementation.
Data Source
AI summary
A memory device and an associated control method are provided. The memory device includes a non-volatile memory array and a memory control circuit. The non-volatile memory array includes M secured memory zones. The memory control circuit is electrically connected to the non-volatile memory array. The memory control circuit provides a set of mapping information and searches a request key in the set of mapping information. The set of mapping information represents correspondences between N access keys and the M secured memory zones. The memory control circuit acquires at least one of the M secured memory zones if the request key is one of the N access keys, and performs an access command to the at least one of the M secured memory zones. M and N are positive integers.