Memory data security
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsDiyanesh B. Chinnakkonda Vidyapoornachary, Timothy J. Dell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A memory module secures data stored on the memory module. A request for the data from a computer system is received by the memory module. A verification key from the computer system is also received by the memory module. A reference key is retrieved by the memory module, the reference key is stored on the memory module. A comparison status is generated by the memory module by comparing the verification key with the reference key. A response is sent to the computer by the memory module that is dependent upon the comparison status.
Claims20
A method for securing data on at least one memory chip of a memory module, the method comprising:
- receiving, by the memory module, a request for the data from a computer system;
- receiving, by the memory module, a verification key from the computer system;
- retrieving, by the memory module, a reference key, the reference key stored on the memory module;
- generating, by the memory module, a comparison status in response to comparing the verification key with the reference key;
- and
- sending, by the memory module, a response to the computer system in response to the comparison status.
A memory module for securing data stored on a memory module, the memory module comprising:
- at least one memory chip configured to store the data;
- a communication bus configured to receive a request for the data from a computer system, the communication bus configured to transmit the request for the data to the at least one memory chip, the communication bus further configured to receive a verification key from the computer system;
- a reference chip configured to store a reference key related to the memory module;
- a comparison chip configured to receive the verification key from the communication bus, the comparison chip further configured to receive the reference key from the reference chip, the comparison chip further configured to generate a comparison status in response to comparing the verification key and the reference key;
- and
- a logic chip configured to receive the data from the at least one memory chip, the logic chip further configured to receive the comparison status from the comparison chip, the logic chip further configured to send a response to the communication bus in response to the comparison status.
A system for securing data, the system comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory controller configured to receive a request for the data from the processor;
- and
- a memory module comprising:
- at least one memory chip configured to store the data;
- a communication bus configured to receive the request and a verification key from the memory controller, transmit the request to the memory chip, and send a response to the memory controller;
- a reference chip configured to store a reference key related to the memory module;
- a comparison chip configured to receive the verification key from the communication bus, receive the reference key from the reference chip, and generate a comparison status in response to comparing the verification key and the reference key;
- and
- a logic chip configured to receive the data from the memory chip, receive the comparison status from the comparison chip, generate, based on the comparison status, a response, and transmit the response to the communication bus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.