Secure Boot Image Segmentation for Concurrent Measurement Execution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Memory devices experience delays during secure boot processes due to cryptographic measurements, which are critical in time-sensitive applications like automobiles, leading to potential negative impacts on system performance.

Innovation Solution

Concurrent measurement and execution of image portions using separate processing resources, allowing for secure boot without copying images to volatile memory, thereby reducing delays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cryptographic measurements are performed during secure boot processes, then system security is improved, but boot time delays increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem securityVSAvoidboot time delays

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The image is divided into multiple portions, allowing cryptographic measurements to be performed on different portions concurrently with execution of other portions. This segmentation enables parallel processing of measurement and execution tasks, reducing overall boot time while maintaining security verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs cryptographic measurements continuously during the boot process rather than completing all measurements before execution. By measuring image portions concurrently with their execution or with other portions, the useful action of system startup continues without interruption, minimizing boot time delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Measurement precision

If image portions are measured sequentially before execution, then measurement accuracy is ensured, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidboot speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The image is segmented into multiple portions that can be measured and executed in overlapping time periods. This allows the measurement process to be distributed across different time slots and processing resources, maintaining verification accuracy while improving overall boot speed through parallel operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Certain image portions are measured in advance before execution begins, while other portions are measured during execution. This preliminary action on critical portions ensures measurement accuracy is maintained for key system components while allowing non-critical portions to be measured concurrently, balancing precision and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250362927A1Concurrent image measurement and execution

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 LODESTAR LICENSING GROUP LLC

AI summary

Apparatuses and methods related to concurrently measuring and executing images. An apparatus for concurrently measuring and executing images can include a memory device, a first processing resource and a second processing resource. The first processing resource can execute instructions stored in the memory device to execute a first portion of an image responsive to measuring the first portion of the image and execute a second portion of the image responsive to measuring the second portion of the image. The second processing resource can execute instructions stored in the memory device to measure the first portion of the image and measure the second portion of the image concurrently with an execution of the first portion of the image by the first processing resource.