Mode Switching Unit for Secure Information Processing Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional information processing devices face challenges in achieving real-time performance when switching between secure and non-secure modes, as they typically require waiting for processing in one mode to end before switching, leading to reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device with a switching unit that allows mode switching from secure to non-secure mode during active operation, utilizing a write-back cache system and a memory access control table to manage data access and locking states, enabling simultaneous processing and reducing vulnerability risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mode is switched to another mode after waiting for the processing in one mode to end, then the system ensures secure data access control, but the real-time performance is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by writing data from cache memory to memory in advance before mode switching occurs. The control unit determines whether data has been written to memory beforehand, and only switches modes after confirming data persistence, thus preventing access errors while enabling timely mode transitions without waiting for processing completion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the mode switching capability adaptive - the system can dynamically switch between waiting for processing completion and switching during processing based on whether data has been written to memory. This dynamic approach allows real-time performance improvement when data is already persisted, while maintaining security when it hasn't been written yet
2Loss of time
If the mode is switched during active processing without waiting, then the real-time performance is improved, but memory access errors and vulnerability risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary checking to determine whether data has been written from cache memory to memory before initiating mode switching. This preliminary action ensures that if data persists in memory, safe mode switching can occur without waiting for processing completion, improving real-time performance while preventing memory access errors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary control unit that mediates between the processing unit and mode switching. This control unit acts as a safety intermediary by checking data write status and controlling the switching timing, thus preventing direct unsafe mode transitions while enabling performance optimization when conditions are appropriate
3Reliability
If the system waits for processing completion before mode switching, then memory access safety is ensured, but processing efficiency and real-time performance decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary determination of data write status before mode switching. When data has already been written to memory in advance, the system can switch modes immediately without waiting for processing completion, thus maintaining memory access safety while significantly improving processing efficiency and real-time performance
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment, an information processing device operates while switching between a secure mode and a non-secure mode. The information processing device includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to function as a switching unit. The switching unit switches a mode from the secure mode to the non-secure mode at the time when the information processing device is operating in the secure mode.