Memory management system and method for providing physical address based memory access security
US6823433B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 13, 2001 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 27, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F12/1491
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A memory management unit (MMU) is disclosed for managing a memory storing data arranged within a plurality of memory pages. The MMU includes a security check unit (SCU) receiving a physical address generated during execution of a current instruction. The physical address resides within a selected memory page. The SCU uses the physical address to access one or more security attribute data structures located in the memory to obtain a security attribute of the selected memory page, compares a numerical value conveyed by a security attribute of the current instruction to a numerical value conveyed by the security attribute of the selected memory page, and produces an output signal dependent upon a result of the comparison. The MMU accesses the selected memory page dependent upon the output signal. The security attribute of the selected memory page may include a security context identification (SCID) value indicating a security context level of the selected memory page. The security attribute of the current instruction may include an SCID value indicating a security context level of a memory page containing the current instruction. A central processing unit (CPU) is described including …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.