TPM State Change Consensus Module Preventing Data Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cryptographic hardware like TPMs can cause system failures or data loss when state change commands, such as disabling, are executed without notifying dependent software agents, leading to unexpected downtime or data loss.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a software stack with a consensus module that registers and notifies software agents of impending state changes, allowing them to delay or prevent the action, disassociate from the TPM, or veto the command, thereby ensuring continued operation and data integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a TPM state change command is executed without notifying software agents, then the command is executed quickly and the system responds promptly, but data loss or denial of service occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by notifying software agents of an impending TPM state change before the actual change occurs. This allows agents to prepare or abort the operation, preventing data loss while maintaining timely execution through controlled sequencing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by querying software agents to determine whether they permit the TPM state change. This feedback mechanism ensures data integrity by allowing agents to veto changes that would cause data loss, while still enabling execution when agents confirm safety.
2Ease of operation
If a TPM state change command is executed without notification, then the system maintains simple operation, but unexpected downtime or data loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses self-service by allowing software agents to autonomously determine whether to permit or abort TPM state changes based on their own state and dependencies. This maintains operational simplicity while improving reliability through decentralized decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary consensus module that mediates between the TPM state change command and the software agents. This intermediary coordinates notifications and queries, ensuring system continuity without significantly complicating the overall operation.
3Reliability
If software agents are notified and queried before TPM state change, then data integrity is preserved, but the operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by notifying and querying only those software agents that are actually dependent on the TPM and may be affected by the state change. This minimizes unnecessary communication overhead while still preserving data integrity for relevant agents.
4Speed
If the TPM is disabled without notifying dependent parties, then the disable command executes immediately, but encrypted data becomes permanently inaccessible
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by notifying software agents of the impending TPM disable command before execution. This allows agents to complete necessary data access or migration operations, preventing permanent loss of encrypted data while still enabling timely disable execution.
Data Source
AI summary
In at least some embodiments, a system comprises a hardware unit and a plurality of software agents that couple to and utilize at least one function of the hardware unit. The system further comprises a consensus module coupled to the hardware unit and the software agents. The consensus module is configured to detect an event that changes a state of the hardware unit, notify the software agents of the event before the state changes and selectively permit the state to change based on responses from the software agents.