Volatile-Memory Controller Boot for Program Theft Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Controller systems are vulnerable to threats due to networking and intelligentization, and conventional systems fail to anticipate or protect against such threats.
Innovation Solution
A controller system design that acquires a control program from a server upon power-on, stores it in volatile storage during power supply, and erases it upon power-off, using encrypted communication and verification methods to ensure program integrity and prevent information leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the controller system stores the control program in volatile storage during operation, then the program can be executed efficiently, but the program is vulnerable to theft or tampering when the system is powered on
Solution Approach 1:
The controller acquires and verifies the control program from the server before execution, preparing it in advance in volatile storage. This preliminary action ensures the program is ready for immediate execution while limiting its presence to only when needed, reducing exposure to theft and tampering risks
Solution Approach 2:
The control program is stored in volatile storage memory that automatically erases the program when power is removed. This creates a short-living storage solution where the program exists only during operation, preventing long-term storage vulnerabilities while maintaining execution efficiency during the operational period
2Adaptability or versatility
If the controller system connects to the server to acquire the control program, then the system can be updated and maintained centrally, but the communication channel becomes a vulnerability for unauthorized access or injection
Solution Approach 1:
The controller acquires the control program from the server in advance before execution, establishing a preliminary action where the program is fetched and verified prior to being loaded into volatile storage. This advance acquisition allows centralized updates while enabling verification before execution, reducing the window for unauthorized access
Solution Approach 2:
The server provides feedback information including hash values or digital signatures that allow the controller to verify the integrity and authenticity of the received control program. This feedback mechanism ensures centralized update capability while preventing unauthorized access or injection by validating the program source
3Reliability
If the controller system uses encrypted communication with the server, then the program integrity can be protected during transmission, but the communication complexity and verification overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The server sends feedback information such as hash values or digital signatures along with the control program through encrypted communication. The controller uses this feedback to verify program integrity, ensuring reliable transmission while managing complexity through automated verification processes that add minimal overhead
Data Source
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AI summary
This controller system (1) comprises: a program acquisition unit (152) that acquires, by turning on the controller system (1), a control program from a server in which the control program is stored; a main storage device (106) that stores the control program acquired by the program acquisition unit (152) while electric power is supplied to the controller system (1); and a program execution unit (154) that executes the control program stored in the main storage device (106).