Secure Element Frequency Adjustment for Shared SoC Voltage Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing SoC systems face security risks due to attackers manipulating voltage and frequency of processor cores, leading to hardware errors and data breaches, as multiple cores share a common voltage manager, compromising the integrity of secure execution environments.
Innovation Solution
Implement a secure element subsystem with a power management module and register, allowing only the secure element subsystem to access and adjust frequency adjustments, using software and hardware methods based on register states to ensure frequency adjustments are within safe operating ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a common voltage manager is shared by multiple processor cores, then device complexity is reduced, but security reliability deteriorates due to unauthorized manipulation of voltage and frequency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the voltage management functionality by creating a dedicated secure element subsystem that isolates the secure processor core's voltage and frequency control from other cores. This segmentation prevents unauthorized access while maintaining the overall system architecture, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and security.
2Productivity
If frequency adjustment is allowed for performance optimization, then productivity improves, but system stability deteriorates due to potential violation of timing constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the power management module continuously monitors the state of registers and adjusts frequency accordingly. The system checks register states before and during frequency adjustments, providing feedback control that ensures timing constraints are maintained while allowing performance optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent carefully controls parameter changes by adjusting frequency only within safe operating ranges determined by register states. The power management module modifies frequency parameters based on monitored conditions, ensuring that changes improve productivity without violating stability requirements.
3Reliability
If unauthorized access to frequency adjustment is prevented, then security reliability improves, but ease of operation deteriorates due to restricted control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the power management module as an intermediary between the secure processor core and the frequency control mechanisms. This intermediary maintains security by preventing direct unauthorized access while still enabling legitimate frequency adjustments through controlled interfaces, thus preserving both security and operational ease.
Data Source
AI summary
A data processing method applicable to a security architecture system. The security architecture system includes a secure element subsystem, the secure element subsystem includes a power management module and a register, and a communication connection is established between the power management module and the register. The method includes: obtaining, by the power management module, a state of the register through the power management module, and selecting a first adjustment method or a second adjustment method based on the state of the register to adjust a frequency of a target component.