Dynamic configuration and peripheral access in a processor

US9710404B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Intel Corporation · US

Inventors

• Steffen Schulz · Darmstadt, DE
• Patrick Koeberl · Hähnlein, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 23, 2015
• Grant date: Jul 18, 2017
• Expiry date: Jul 20, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F2212/1052
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

In various implementations, a system includes a memory, a processor, and an execution-aware memory protection unit (EA-MPU). The EA-MPU is configured to regulate memory access by the processor based at least on the identity of a subject executable that requests access, and on the address to which access is requested, and on permissions information that identifies which subject executables are to be granted access to each of several memory regions. In various implementations, the permissions information itself is stored among the several memory regions. Various configurations of the permissions information can be used to provide shared memory regions for communication among two or more stand-alone trusted software modules, to protect access to devices accessible through memory-mapped I/O (MMIO), to implement a flexible watchdog timer, to provide security for software updates, to provide dynamic root of trust measurement services, and/or to support an operating system.