Hardware Memory Protection via Protect Signal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data protection methods in computer systems are inadequate as they rely on software to secure protected content, making it vulnerable to unauthorized access and copying, especially when advanced algorithms require access by multiple devices, which complicates secure data handling and management.
Innovation Solution
A hardware-based system that protects data by designating a predetermined memory region for secure storage, using a protect signal to ensure that only trusted clients can access and manipulate protected data, while preventing unauthorized copying or access, even during processing and display operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If software encryption is used to protect data, then data security is improved, but the decrypted data becomes vulnerable to copying and unauthorized access by system devices or software
Solution Approach 1:
The memory is divided into protected and unprotected portions, creating distinct zones with different access control mechanisms. This segmentation allows the system to maintain security boundaries while enabling legitimate processing operations within the protected zone.
Solution Approach 2:
A memory controller acts as an intermediary between the CPU and memory, enforcing protection rules by intercepting read and write requests. The controller determines whether data resides in protected memory and manages the protect signal to control access, preventing unauthorized copying while allowing legitimate operations.
2Reliability
If hardware barrier is implemented to prevent data escape, then data protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The memory controller performs multiple functions: it manages normal memory access, identifies protected memory regions, generates protect signals, and enforces access control rules. By consolidating these functions into a single component, the system achieves comprehensive data protection without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
3Productivity
If protected data is made accessible to multiple devices for processing, then processing capability is improved, but security vulnerability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protect signal provides feedback to the memory controller about the protected status of data. This feedback mechanism enables the controller to enforce appropriate access control rules for each device making requests, allowing multiple devices to access protected data for processing while maintaining security through selective authorization.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are provided for protecting data. In operation, a request to read data from memory is received. Additionally, it is determined whether the data is stored in a predetermined portion of the memory. If it is determined that the data is stored in the predetermined portion of the memory, the data and a protect signal are returned for use in protecting the data. In certain embodiments of the invention, data stored in the predetermined portion of the memory may be further processed and written hack to the predetermined portion of the memory. In other embodiments of the invention, such processing may involve unprotected data stored outside the predetermined portion of the memory.