Secure Element Virtual DMA for External Memory Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Integrated secure elements (SEs) face challenges due to structural limitations and memory capacity constraints, making them difficult to commercialize and manage large volumes of important data effectively.

Innovation Solution

Secure elements (SEs) are coupled to a system-on-chip (SoC) with virtual secure direct memory access (DMA) circuitry and interface circuitry to utilize external memory for secure operations, allowing secure data processing and verification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a discrete SE is used instead of an integrated SE, then manufacturing feasibility is improved, but internal memory capacity is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing feasibilityVSAvoidinternal memory capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the discrete SE with external memory resources by establishing a shared memory architecture where the SE can access both its limited internal memory and the SoC's external memory through the DMA circuitry, effectively merging memory resources across component boundaries

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The external memory connected to the SoC is made multi-functional by allowing it to serve both the SoC's general purposes and the SE's secure data storage needs, enabling the memory to adapt to different functional requirements through software-controlled access permissions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Speed

If an integrated SE is used within the SoC, then memory access speed is improved, but structural limitations prevent commercialization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory access speedVSAvoidstructural limitations

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces DMA circuitry as an intermediary component that mediates between the SE and external memory, enabling direct memory access without requiring the SE to be physically integrated into the SoC, thus maintaining manufacturing feasibility while achieving fast access speeds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The memory access function is segmented into independent components: the SE generates data, the DMA circuitry handles data transfer to external memory, and the external memory stores data. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together efficiently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12602333B2Secure element and electronic device including the same

Publication Date: 2026.04.14 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A secure element (SE) coupled to a system-on-chip (SoC) includes an internal memory, virtual secure direct memory access (DMA) circuitry configured to perform a secure operation using an external memory connected to the SoC in association with the internal memory, and SE interface circuitry configured to output secure data and a write request generated by the virtual secure DMA circuitry to the SoC, the secure data being stored in the external memory.