Tool Access Security Circuit for Granular IC Memory Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing external software development and debugging tools lack granular access control and security measures, allowing unauthorized access to integrated circuit memory and potentially exposing proprietary information, especially when different device components are supplied by different vendors.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a protection agent circuitry that manages tool access by allocating specific memory ranges to device components, encrypting and authenticating tool-related messages, and using a memory protection unit to enforce access restrictions, ensuring that only authorized tools can access designated memory areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If external tools are allowed to access integrated circuit memory for debugging and development, then tool functionality and ease of operation are improved, but security and protection of proprietary information deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The memory space is segmented into multiple ranges, with each range allocated to specific device components. The bus master is configured to access only specific segmented memory ranges, preventing unauthorized access to other areas. This segmentation allows tools to access necessary memory regions while protecting proprietary information in other regions.
Solution Approach 2:
A protection agent circuitry is introduced as an intermediary between the bus master and the memory system. This protection agent intercepts and monitors bus master access requests, validating them against security policies before allowing access. The intermediary enables controlled tool functionality while maintaining security boundaries.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple device components from different vendors are integrated, then device functionality and adaptability are improved, but security control and information protection deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Each device component from different vendors is allocated dedicated memory ranges, creating isolated security zones. The bus master configuration specifies which memory ranges are accessible, ensuring that components from different vendors can coexist without exposing each other's proprietary information through memory access.
Solution Approach 2:
Different memory ranges have different access permissions and security attributes tailored to specific device components. This local quality approach allows customized security policies for each vendor's component while maintaining overall system security, enabling multi-vendor integration without compromising information protection.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If granular access control is implemented to protect memory, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protection agent circuitry operates autonomously to manage bus master access requests. It automatically validates requests against configured security policies and enforces access controls without requiring external intervention. This self-service approach simplifies the overall system by embedding security management within the existing bus master architecture rather than adding external complex control mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and circuitries are disclosed for providing security for tool access in a device. In one example, a device includes a bus master, a memory protection unit, and protection agent circuitry. The bus master is configured to store, in a first range of memory locations, request messages received from a tool interface of the device, each request message encapsulating a tool-related command. The memory protection unit is configured to prevent the bus master from accessing memory locations outside of the first range of memory locations. The protection agent circuitry is configured to access the first range of memory locations to identify one or more request messages, and send each respective request message to one of a plurality of component circuitries based on a component circuitry identified by the request message.