Data processing system defense

A data processing system comprising:

• an interface for communication between a first module and a second module;
• compensation parameter storage for at least one stored compensation parameter for application in operation of the interface and representing an expected physical state of the interface;
• measurement circuitry configured to measure a current physical state of the interface and to generate at least one measured compensation parameter, wherein the at least one measured compensation parameter is dependent on the current physical state of the interface;
• and
• monitoring circuitry configured to compare the at least one measured compensation parameter with the at least one stored compensation parameter and to initiate a defensive response by the data processing system when the at least one measured compensation parameter differs by more than a threshold difference from the at least one stored compensation parameter,
• wherein measurement of the current physical state of the interface comprises measurement of a characteristic of the operation of the interface as a proxy measurement of the current physical state of the interface, and
• wherein the characteristic of the operation of the interface comprises an expected bitrate carried by the interface.

A method of operating a data processing system comprising:

• storing at least one stored compensation parameter for application in operation of an interface, wherein the at least one stored compensation parameter represents an expected physical state of the interface;
• operating the interface for communication between a first module and a second module of the data processing system;
• measuring a current physical state of the interface;
• generating at least one measured compensation parameter in dependence on the current physical state of the interface;
• comparing the at least one measured compensation parameter with the at least one stored compensation parameter;
• initiating a defensive response by the data processing system when the at least one measured compensation parameter differs by more than a threshold difference from the at least one stored compensation parameter;
• wherein measuring the current physical state of the interface comprises measuring a characteristic of the operation of the interface as a proxy measurement of the current physical state of the interface, and the at least one stored compensation parameter comprises at least one trained equalisation parameter for the interface;
• and
• monitoring and updating the at least one trained equalisation parameter for the interface at intervals during operations of the interface to perform dynamic equalisation.