Physical Memory Protection for Embedded Hardware Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing embedded systems lack effective mechanisms for ensuring exclusive access to hardware devices, which is critical for security in IoT, industrial control, and digital copyright applications, as tampering with sensor data can lead to significant disasters and unauthorized access can compromise data integrity.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a physical memory protection apparatus with a register set to store permission data, a physical memory arbiter to verify access instructions, and a secure monitor to configure and enforce exclusive access permissions, ensuring that only authorized application programs can access specific hardware devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If embedded systems are miniaturized and specialized for low power consumption and low cost, then device complexity and manufacturing cost are reduced, but security requirements and the risk of unauthorized access increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments access rights by dividing hardware device access permissions into exclusive access mode and shared access mode. The physical memory protection apparatus segments the address space into protected areas and non-protected areas, allowing different access controls for different regions. This segmentation enables fine-grained security control without requiring complex overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical memory protection apparatus serves as an intermediary between the processor and hardware devices. It intercepts access instructions, verifies permission data, and controls whether access should be granted. This intermediary layer enforces security policies without requiring complex software authentication mechanisms, maintaining low system complexity while improving security.
2Device complexity
If traditional access control mechanisms are used without physical memory protection, then device complexity remains low, but unauthorized access and data tampering can occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring permission data in the physical memory protection apparatus before runtime access occurs. The permission data specifies which application programs have exclusive or shared access rights to specific hardware devices. This preliminary configuration enables automatic access control verification without adding complex runtime decision-making logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical memory protection apparatus performs self-service by automatically verifying access instructions against stored permission data and enforcing access control policies. The system self-manages the protection of hardware devices without requiring external security management infrastructure, keeping device complexity low while providing robust security.
3Reliability
If exclusive access permissions are enforced for all hardware devices, then security is improved, but access flexibility and device sharing capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic access control by supporting both exclusive access mode and shared access mode for different hardware devices and different application programs. The physical memory protection apparatus dynamically determines the appropriate access mode based on the permission data for each specific access request. This dynamic approach allows the system to provide strict exclusive access when security is critical while allowing flexible shared access when collaboration is needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by configuring different access permissions for different hardware devices and different address spaces. The physical memory protection apparatus allows exclusive access for security-critical devices while permitting shared access for non-critical devices. This localized differentiation of access rights enables the system to maximize security where needed while maintaining access flexibility where appropriate.
Data Source
AI summary
An embedded system and method, comprising a processor adapted to execute an instruction of an application program, where the instruction includes an access instruction for a hardware device; a memory adapted to store the instruction of the application program; and a physical memory protection apparatus coupled to the processor and the memory, where the access instruction accesses the hardware device through the physical memory protection apparatus.