Platform Security Processor Data Preservation During System Events

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Solution Overview

Problem

Information handling systems face challenges in preserving data during events affecting the system, such as reboots, due to the lack of effective mechanisms for maintaining data integrity in non-volatile memory.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a platform security processor (PSP) with local memory that stores and preserves data from non-volatile memory locations during system events, ensuring data integrity by designating a master PSP to manage and store critical data in PSP memory.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If data is stored in non-volatile memory during system events, then data persistence is improved, but data integrity may be compromised due to system instability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata persistenceVSAvoiddata integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The PSP acts as an intermediary between the BIOS and non-volatile memory. The BIOS provides memory locations to the PSP, which then stores and preserves the data independently during system events. This mediator approach allows data to be preserved without direct BIOS involvement during the event, ensuring integrity while maintaining persistence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system separates data preservation functionality into a dedicated component (PSP) rather than relying on the main processor or BIOS alone. The PSP has its own memory space and operates independently to preserve specific memory locations, segmenting the data protection function from the general system operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a dedicated processor is added to preserve data, then data integrity is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The PSP is designed as a multi-functional component that not only preserves data but also provides security functions and system management capabilities. By consolidating multiple functions into a single dedicated processor, the system achieves improved data integrity without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10395037B2System and method for preserving data during an information handling system event using information handling system memory

Publication Date: 2019.08.27 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An information handling system may include a non-volatile memory and a processor system coupled to the non-volatile memory to access the non-volatile memory. The processor system may include a processor core and a corresponding platform security processor (PSP) having PSP memory. A BIOS of the processor system running on the processor core may store data at locations in the non-volatile memory and provide these memory locations to the PSP. The PSP stores these non-volatile memory locations in PSP memory and maintains the data in the non-volatile memory at the locations during an event affecting the processor system.