US 11,768,987 B2 · System for facilitating secure communication in system-on-chips

Abstract

A system to facilitate communication of a critical signal between functional circuitries of a system-on-chip utilizes a dynamic pattern to securely communicate the critical signal. The system includes selection and comparison circuits. The selection circuit is configured to select and output a set of dynamic pattern bits or a set of fixed reference bits, based on a logic state of the critical signal that is received from one functional circuitry. The comparison circuit is configured to output an output signal based on the set of dynamic pattern bits, and a set of intermediate bits that is derived from the set of dynamic pattern bits or the set of fixed reference bits. The output signal is provided to the other functional circuitry when a logic state of the output signal matches the logic state of the critical signal, thereby securely communicating the critical signal to the other functional circuitry.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A protection system for facilitating secure communication of a critical signal from a first functional circuitry to a second functional circuitry, the protection system comprising:

a selection circuit that is coupled with the first functional circuitry, and is configured to receive the critical signal, a set of dynamic pattern bits, and a set of fixed reference bits, wherein the selection circuit is further configured to select and output based on a logic state of the critical signal, one of the set of dynamic pattern bits and the set of fixed reference bits as a set of selected bits;
and
a comparison circuit that is coupled with the second functional circuitry, and is configured to receive the set of dynamic pattern bits and a set of intermediate bits that is derived from the set of selected bits, and output an output signal, wherein the comparison circuit is further configured to provide the output signal to the second functional circuitry when a logic state of the output signal matches the logic state of the critical signal, thereby facilitating secure communication of the critical signal.

A system-on-chip (SOC), comprising:

first and second functional circuitries, wherein the first functional circuitry is configured to generate a critical signal for communicating to the second functional circuitry;
and
a protection system that is coupled between the first and second functional circuitries, and is configured to facilitate secure communication of the critical signal from the first functional circuitry to the second functional circuitry, the protection system comprising:
a selection circuit that is coupled with the first functional circuitry, and is configured to receive the critical signal, a set of dynamic pattern bits, and a set of fixed reference bits, wherein the selection circuit is further configured to select and output based on a logic state of the critical signal, one of the set of dynamic pattern bits and the set of fixed reference bits as a set of selected bits;
and
a comparison circuit that is coupled with the second functional circuitry, and is configured to receive the set of dynamic pattern bits and a set of intermediate bits that is derived from the set of selected bits, and output an output signal, wherein the comparison circuit is further configured to provide the output signal to the second functional circuitry when a logic state of the output signal matches the logic state of the critical signal, thereby facilitating secure communication of the critical signal.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for facilitating secure communication in system-on-chips

Life of this patent

System for facilitating secure communication in system-on-chips

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20