Volatile Counter Event Tracking with Backup Power Integrity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing event tracking systems in computing devices, such as smart cards, face challenges in maintaining the integrity of event counts during power loss or adversarial manipulation, as they often rely on volatile memory that can lose data when power is interrupted.

Innovation Solution

The system employs a combination of volatile and nonvolatile storage, utilizing a backup power source to maintain the count integrity by writing bits to nonvolatile storage and using readout circuitry and control logic to determine the total number of events, either by writing a bit regardless of the volatile counter's value or by snapshotting the count during an error event.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If volatile memory is used to store event counts, then the system can quickly track and update event numbers, but the data integrity is compromised during power loss or adversarial manipulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevent tracking speedVSAvoiddata integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the storage function into two segments: volatile memory for rapid event counting and nonvolatile memory for data persistence. The volatile counter handles high-speed event tracking while the nonvolatile storage maintains integrity during power loss, with a backup power source bridging the two segments to ensure seamless data transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The backup power source is pre-charged and ready before power loss occurs. When power is lost, the backup power immediately activates to maintain the volatile counter's operation long enough to transfer the count value to nonvolatile storage, preventing data loss without requiring real-time power management decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If nonvolatile storage is used to maintain event counts, then data integrity is preserved during power loss, but the tracking efficiency and speed are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidtracking efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the tracking function (handled by fast volatile memory) from the storage function (handled by reliable nonvolatile memory). This segmentation allows each component to optimize for its specific purpose while working together through the backup power mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The backup power source acts as an intermediary that enables the volatile counter to temporarily maintain operation during power loss, bridging the gap between fast volatile storage and reliable nonvolatile storage, thus achieving both speed and integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a backup power source is implemented to maintain volatile counter operation, then data integrity is maintained during power loss, but the system complexity and power management burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecount integrityVSAvoidpower management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The backup power source automatically activates upon power loss without requiring external control or complex management logic. It self-regulates to maintain the volatile counter until the count is safely transferred to nonvolatile storage, reducing the burden on the main control system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If the volatile counter is powered by backup power for a predetermined time, then sufficient time is provided to transfer count data to nonvolatile storage, but energy is consumed even when not strictly necessary

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer completionVSAvoidbackup power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a feedback mechanism where the completion of the data transfer from volatile to nonvolatile storage automatically signals the backup power source to stop providing power. This ensures energy is consumed only for the minimum necessary duration to guarantee data integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach ensures reliable storage and retrieval of event counts even during power loss or manipulation, maintaining data integrity and enabling secure transactions by efficiently using both volatile and nonvolatile memory.

Implementation Method 1

The backup power source may be a capacitor or other similar device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS11182234B2Tracking events of interest

Publication Date: 2021.11.23 ARM LTD

AI summary

A system for tracking events of interest can include at least one volatile counter; a nonvolatile storage coupled to the at least one volatile counter, the nonvolatile storage storing a bit for each top volatile count number of events identified by the at least one volatile counter; a backup power source coupled to the at least one volatile counter; and readout circuitry and control logic coupled to the one or more of the at least one volatile counter and to the nonvolatile storage, the readout circuitry and control logic being configured to control operations of the at least one volatile counter during an error event and determine a total number of events.