Secure integrated-circuit state management
US10296738B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 3, 2017 |
| Grant date | May 21, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 7, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2212/7204
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus includes a Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) and a controller. The controller is configured to store in the NVM a state array, which includes multiple words. In each word, one or more bits are designated as lock-bits. The controller is further configured to set an operational state for the apparatus based on the lock-bits of the state array, by (i) deciding whether each word in the state array is locked or unlocked by comparing the lock-bits of that word to respective expected lock values, (ii) if all the words in the state array are found locked, setting the apparatus to a locked state, (iii) if all the words in the state array are found unlocked, setting the apparatus to an unlocked state, and (iv) if one or more of the words are found locked and one or more other words are found unlocked, setting the apparatus to an error state.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.