# US 11,113,402 B2 · Tunneling functional safety communications over an enhanced serial peripheral interface

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- Number: US 11,113,402 B2
- Document ID: US11113402B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/370,566
- Filed: 2019-03-29
- Published: 2019-07-25
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2019-03-29
- Assignees: Intel Corporation
- Applicants: Intel Corporation
- Inventors: Mikal Hunsaker; Mark Feuerstraeter; Asad Azam; Zhenyu Zhu; Navtej Singh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11113402B2

## CPC

- G06F 21/575: {Secure boot}
- G05B 9/02: electric
- G05B 19/0425: {Safety, monitoring}
- G05B 19/0428: {Safety, monitoring (G05B19/0423 takes precedence)}
- G06F 21/572: {Secure firmware programming, e.g. of basic input output system [BIOS]}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)

## Abstract

Methods, systems and apparatuses may provide for technology that includes a system on chip (SoC) having a root of trust and an embedded controller to conduct functional safety operations and non-functional safety operations with respect to the SoC. The technology may also include an enhanced serial peripheral interface (eSPI) coupled to the SoC and the embedded controller, wherein the eSPI is to tunnel communications associated with the functional safety operations between the embedded controller and the root of trust.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a vehicle subsystem;
a system on chip (SoC) coupled to the vehicle subsystem, the SoC including a root of trust;
an embedded controller to conduct functional safety operations and non-functional safety operations; and
an enhanced serial peripheral interface (eSPI) coupled to the SoC and the embedded controller, wherein the eSPI is to tunnel communications associated with the functional safety operations between the embedded controller and the root of trust.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the communications are to include data collection traffic.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the root of trust includes a security unit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the root of trust includes a power management unit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the root of trust includes an internal safety unit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the embedded controller is to power on before the SoC.

### Claim 7

An apparatus comprising:
a system on chip (SoC) including a root of trust;
an embedded controller to conduct functional safety operations in compliance with one or more safety requirements and conduct non-functional safety operations; and
an interface coupled to the SoC and the embedded controller, wherein the interface is to tunnel communications associated with the functional safety operations between the embedded controller and the root of trust, wherein the interface is an enhanced serial peripheral interface (eSPI).

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the communications are to include data collection traffic.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the root of trust includes one or more of a security unit or a power management unit.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the root of trust includes an internal safety unit.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the embedded controller is to power on before the SoC.

### Claim 12

At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions, which when executed by an embedded controller, cause the embedded controller to:
conduct functional safety operations with respect to a system on chip (SoC) including a root of trust;
conduct non-functional safety operations with respect to the SoC; and
tunnel communications associated with the functional safety operations to the root of trust via an enhanced serial peripheral interface (eSPI).

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the communications are to include data collection traffic.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the communications are to be tunneled to a security unit in the root of trust.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the communications are to be tunneled to a power management unit in the root of trust.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the communications are to be tunneled to an internal safety unit in the root of trust.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the embedded controller is to power on before the SoC.

### Claim 18

A method comprising:
conducting, by an embedded controller, functional safety operations with respect to a system on chip (SoC) including a root of trust;
conducting, by the embedded controller, non-functional safety operations with respect to the SoC; and
tunneling communications associated with the functional safety operations from the embedded controller to the root of trust via an enhanced serial peripheral interface (eSPI).

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the communications include data collection traffic.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the communications are tunneled to a security unit in the root of trust.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the communications are tunneled to a power management unit in the root of trust.

### Claim 22 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the communications are tunneled to an internal safety unit in the root of trust.

### Claim 23 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the embedded controller powers on before the SoC.