Encryption key obfuscation and storage
US7734043B1 · kind B1 · utility
21Cited by
8References
19Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 25, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jun 8, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 4, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2209/16
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Circuits, methods, and apparatus that prevent easy detection and erasure or modification of an encryption or encoding key. This key may be used to encode and decode a configuration bitstream for an FPGA or other programmable or configurable device. One embodiment of the present invention obfuscates a key then stores it in a memory array on an FPGA. This memory array may be a one-time programmable memory to prevent erasure or modification of the key. After retrieval from storage, a reverse or de-obfuscation is performed to recover the key. Further obfuscation may be achieved by proper layout of the relevant circuitry.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.