PCIe Security System for SAR Antenna Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information handling systems face challenges in securely managing antenna power output to comply with FCC regulations, particularly in preventing first-level hacking attacks on the PCIe interface, which is vulnerable due to the need for dynamic power reduction when a human body part is in proximity.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an antenna power management PCIe security system that requires entities to provide a response value based on a challenge value to authenticate as the BIOS module, allowing authorized access to the SAR control register for secure power management, thereby protecting against hacking attempts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dynamic power reduction is implemented to comply with FCC regulations when human body parts are in proximity, then safety compliance is improved, but the PCIe interface becomes vulnerable to hacking attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary authentication through challenge-response verification before allowing access to SAR control registers. The security system generates a challenge value, receives a response from the BIOS module, verifies authenticity, and only then permits power management operations. This preliminary security check prevents hacking attacks while maintaining the required dynamic power reduction capability for FCC compliance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If access to SAR control register is restricted through authentication, then security against hacking is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a security system as an intermediary component between the BIOS module and the SAR control register. This intermediary receives power management commands, authenticates them through challenge-response verification, and only forwards authenticated commands to the SAR control register. The intermediary approach provides robust security while maintaining a clear separation of concerns and manageable system architecture.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If challenge-response authentication is implemented, then security is improved, but communication time and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements challenge-response authentication selectively - only when power management operations are initiated, rather than continuously. The authentication process is triggered on-demand for each power management command that requires access to SAR control registers. This partial application of authentication minimizes time overhead while providing adequate security protection for critical operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an information handling system comprising a processor executing instructions of a basic input/output system (BIOS) module operatively connected to a network interface device standard absorption rate (SAR) antenna power control register via a bus interface and the processor executing code instructions for a power management command for altering a power level of a transmission by an operably connected transmitting antenna according to SAR requirements in response to detection at a sensor indicating a change to transmission power levels is required, where the bus interface is secured by implementing a challenge/response cryptographic system between the BIOS module and the network interface device before allowing the read/write command to access the standard absorption rate control register.