Unique and unclonable platform identifiers using data-dependent circuit path responses
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorXu GUO
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for generating a unique identifier. One or more tests are performed over one or more data-dependent circuit paths for one or more circuits. The one or more tests are then repeated over the one or more data-dependent circuit paths for the one or more circuits while adjusting an operating frequency and/or operating voltage for each of the one or more circuits. A threshold frequency and/or threshold voltage is ascertained for each of the one or more data-dependent circuit paths. An identifier may then be generated based on a plurality of the threshold frequencies and/or threshold voltages ascertained for the one or more data-dependent circuit paths.
Claims36
A method operational in a processing circuit for generating a unique identifier, comprising:
- performing one or more tests over one or more data-dependent circuit paths for one or more circuits;
- repeating the one or more tests over the one or more data-dependent circuit paths for the one or more circuits while adjusting an operating frequency and/or operating voltage for each of the one or more circuits;
- ascertaining a threshold frequency and/or threshold voltage for each of the one or more data-dependent circuit paths;
- and
- generating an identifier based on a plurality of the threshold frequencies and/or threshold voltages ascertained for the one or more data-dependent circuit paths.
An apparatus, comprising:
- one or more circuits;
- a processing circuit coupled to the one or more circuits, the processing circuit adapted to:
- perform one or more tests over one or more data-dependent circuit paths of one or more circuits;
- repeat the one or more tests over the one or more data-dependent circuit paths for the one or more circuits while adjusting an operating frequency and/or operating voltage for each of the one or more circuits;
- ascertain a threshold frequency and/or threshold voltage for each of the one or more data-dependent circuit paths;
- and
- generate an identifier based on a plurality of the threshold frequencies and/or threshold voltages ascertained for the one or more data-dependent circuit paths.
An apparatus, comprising:
- means for performing one or more tests over one or more data-dependent circuit paths for one or more circuits;
- means for repeating the one or more tests over the one or more data-dependent circuit paths for the one or more circuits while adjusting an operating frequency and/or operating voltage for each of the one or more circuits;
- means for ascertaining a threshold frequency and/or threshold voltage for each of the one or more data-dependent circuit paths;
- and
- means for generating an identifier based on a plurality of the threshold frequencies and/or threshold voltages ascertained for the one or more data-dependent circuit paths.
A machine-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to:
- perform one or more tests over one or more data-dependent circuit paths for one or more circuits;
- repeat the one or more tests over the one or more data-dependent circuit paths for the one or more circuits while adjusting an operating frequency and/or operating voltage for each of the one or more circuits;
- ascertain a threshold frequency and/or threshold voltage for each of the one or more data-dependent circuit paths;
- and
- generate an identifier based on a plurality of the threshold frequencies and/or threshold voltages ascertained for the one or more data-dependent circuit paths.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.