Methods and structures for protecting programming data for a programmable logic device
US7265573B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 18, 2004 |
| Grant date | Sep 4, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F21/76
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and structures for protecting programmable logic device (“PLD”) programming files are disclosed. In one respect, an embodiment of the present invention includes applying a particular protective setting to a PLD, the setting has a relationship to proper programming of the PLD. A configuration program generates programming data including a non-pre-processed and a pre-processed portion. The pre-processed data reflects the results of processing that is carried out off-device (e.g. by the configuration program on a user computer), but is consistent with the logic of certain on-device processing circuitry. The pre-processing also takes into account information regarding the particular applied setting. The non-pre-processed portion of the programming data is further processed by the certain on-device processing circuitry. The output of the on-device processing circuitry is combined with the pre-processed portion of the programming data in a bit stream for programming the PLD. In another respect, some embodiments utilize a PLD redundancy scheme for implementing programming data protection.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.