Authenticated debug access for field returns

US8332641B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Freeescale Semiconductor, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Lawrence Case · Boynton Beach, US
• Asaf Ashkenazi · Haifa, IL
• Ruchir Chhabra · Austin, US
• Carlin R. Covey · Tempe, US
• David H. Hartley · Adelaide, AU
• Troy E. Mackie · Austin, US
• Alistair N. Muir · Austin, US
• Mark D. Redman · Gilbert, US
• Thomas E. Tkacik · Phoenix, US
• John J. Vaglica · Austin, US
• Rodney D. Ziolkowski · Del Mar, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 30, 2009
• Grant date: Dec 11, 2012
• Expiry date: Sep 20, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04L9/3271
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Under the direction of a first party, an integrated circuit (IC) device is configured to temporarily enable access to a debug interface of the IC device via authentication of the first party by a challenge/response process using a key of the IC device and a challenge value generated at the IC device. The first party then may conduct a software evaluation of the IC device via the debug interface. In response to failing to identify an issue with the IC device from the software evaluation, the first party can permanently enable open access to the debug interface while authenticated and provide the IC device to a second party. Under the direction of the second party, a hardware evaluation of the IC device is conducted via the debug interface that was permanently opened by the first party.