Secure Panel Self-Refresh Frame Buffer Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current computing devices face challenges in reducing power consumption, particularly in graphics processing and display, as these components consume significant power and existing technologies like panel self-refresh (PSR) may not adequately address power efficiency during static image display scenarios.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a secure content display system that establishes a secure, attested communication session between the display controller and the display, using enhanced privacy identifier (EPID) keys, to disable panel read back, clear frame buffers, and transmit predefined images from secure storage, thereby preventing unauthorized access and optimizing power usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If panel self-refresh is used to reduce power consumption during static image display, then power efficiency is improved, but security is worsened due to potential unauthorized access to frame data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower efficiencyVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the frame buffer data from the display controller's accessible memory and stores it in the display panel's internal memory. This separation allows the display panel to maintain a static image using its own internal resources while the display controller can power down or reduce activity, thereby reducing overall power consumption while preventing the controller from accessing sensitive frame data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The display panel's internal frame buffer acts as an intermediary between the display controller and the actual display output. During PSR mode, the panel independently manages its internal buffer without requiring continuous communication with the controller, enabling power savings while maintaining security by keeping frame data localized within the panel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If frame buffer data is continuously refreshed from main memory, then display reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous data transfer from main memory, the system uses periodic refresh only when necessary. The display panel's internal buffer maintains the image during static periods, and refresh operations occur only when the image changes or when exiting PSR mode, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining display reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The display panel serves itself by maintaining static images using its own internal frame buffer without requiring continuous intervention from the display controller or main memory. This self-service capability allows the panel to operate independently during static display periods, reducing power consumption while ensuring reliable image display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Use of energy by moving object

If local frame buffer is used for panel self-refresh, then power consumption is reduced, but security is worsened due to potential read-back of contents

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidunauthorized access to frame data

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts frame data from the display controller's memory space and places it in the display panel's internal memory. This physical separation prevents software or external interfaces from reading frame data through the controller, as the data now resides in a protected location within the panel that is not accessible through normal controller interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system preemptively prevents unauthorized access by storing frame data in the panel's internal buffer before any potential read-back attempt could occur. By localizing the data within the panel's protected memory, the system eliminates the vulnerability to read-back attacks that would otherwise be possible through the display controller's interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentUS10511578B2Technologies for secure content display with panel self-refresh

Publication Date: 2019.12.17 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Technologies for secure content display include a computing device having a display controller and a display. The display includes a self-refresh frame buffer. The computing device establishes a secure, attested communication session between the display controller and the display device. Attestation may be performed using an enhanced privacy identifier key provisioned to the display controller and/or the display by the corresponding manufacturer. The display controller may transmit protected content from a protected audio/video path to the display over the secure communication session. The display controller may transmit a command to the display to disable read back of the self-refresh frame buffer. The display controller may transmit a command to the display to clear the frame buffer. The display controller may transmit a predefined image frame from secure storage to the display. The predefined image frame may be an advertisement or user-defined content. Other embodiments are described and claimed.