Protected Memory Verification for Locked Configuration Settings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing memory devices face issues with unauthorized access and alteration of configuration settings in protected memory portions, leading to functional failures and performance degradation.

Innovation Solution

Implementing configuration setting verification circuitry with lock bits and verification value indicators to ensure the integrity of configuration settings, using cyclic redundancy check (CRC) or checksum values to verify the correctness of stored data during initialization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If configuration settings are stored in protected memory portion, then memory device functionality is maintained, but unauthorized access and alteration can occur leading to functional failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory device functionalityVSAvoidunauthorized alteration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A verification value is calculated and stored in the protected memory portion before the device is operated. During initialization, this pre-stored verification value is used to verify the configuration settings, preventing unauthorized alterations from taking effect. The verification mechanism is prepared in advance to block potential harmful modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a verification feedback mechanism where the stored verification value is compared against a newly calculated verification value during initialization. If the values match, configuration settings are confirmed as authentic; if they differ, unauthorized alterations are detected and blocked, ensuring functional reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If verification mechanisms are implemented, then configuration setting integrity is ensured, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration setting integrityVSAvoidverification circuitry

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of implementing complex real-time verification circuitry, the patent stores a copy of the verification value (such as a CRC or checksum) in the protected memory portion. This copied verification data can be easily retrieved and compared during initialization, providing robust integrity checking with minimal additional hardware complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The verification mechanism relies on changing the verification value parameter based on the configuration settings. By using simple computational parameters like CRC or checksum values that can be calculated and stored, the system achieves reliable verification without requiring complex verification circuitry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20260080065A1Configuration setting verification

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 MICRON TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

An apparatus may include an array of non-volatile memory cells, a protected memory configured to store: configuration settings for the apparatus, and a lock bit, a controller coupled to the array and to the protected memory and configured to: read the protected memory in response to an initialization of the apparatus, prevents alteration of data stored in the protected memory in response to the lock bit having a first value, and allow alteration of the data stored in the protected memory in response to the lock bit having a second value.