Serial Equalizer Parameter Shifting for Probe-Resistant Data Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data security methods, such as encryption, are inadequate in protecting intellectual property in computing systems from unauthorized access, especially when physical components are probed, as they can be compromised by advanced attacks.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing transmit and receive equalizers with varying parameters to distort data signals in a communication channel, making it difficult for external circuits to detect the data stream, while allowing authorized receivers to retrieve the data by synchronizing their parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If encryption is used to protect data in communication channels, then data security is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to advanced attacks and physical probing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the signal itself through equalization processing. By adjusting equalizer coefficients to create controlled distortion in the transmitted signal, the system transforms the signal characteristics so that unauthorized probing becomes ineffective, while authorized receivers with knowledge of the distortion can still recover the data
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of signal distortion (which normally degrades data quality) into a security benefit. The controlled distortion acts as a protective mechanism that prevents unauthorized access, while the system maintains the ability to recover data through compensating equalization at the receiver end
2Reliability
If signal distortion is increased to prevent external detection, then security is improved, but data detection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different signal processing qualities to different locations in the system. At the transmitter, equalization creates controlled distortion for security. At the authorized receiver, complementary equalization processing restores the signal quality for accurate detection. External eavesdroppers without the proper processing cannot detect the data
Solution Approach 2:
The equalizer coefficients act as an intermediary mechanism that enables selective signal recovery. The authorized receiver uses knowledge of the equalizer settings to compensate for the intentional distortion, while unauthorized entities cannot reverse the distortion without the proper coefficients
3Reliability
If equalizer parameters are changed to enhance security, then protection against probing is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing equalization infrastructure already present in high-speed serial communication to provide security functionality. By repurposing the equalizer coefficient adjustment mechanism (which normally serves only signal quality optimization) to also provide security through controlled distortion, the patent avoids adding separate security hardware or protocols
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a transmit equalizer to equalize a data stream using a set of transmit parameters to generate an input signal. The system further includes a communication channel to receive the input signal. The system further includes a receive equalizer to receive an output signal from the communication channel in response to the input signal and detect the data stream from the output signal using a set of receive parameters. The system additionally includes a controller to change the set of transmit parameters in response to a condition, where the transmit parameters, the receive parameters, and the condition are selected to both enable the receive equalizer to detect the data stream from the output signal and reduce the likelihood of an external circuit detecting the data stream from the output signal.