Integrity of tagged data

A method for constructing a secure data architecture for computer memory comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming a plurality of tagged non-numeric single data words by concatenating a tag to each such single data word, each such tag taking a value corresponding to the data type of the single data word to which it is concatenated;
• (b) creating a plurality of non-numeric data multiwords, each formed by concatenating a plurality of tagged single data words having the same non-numeric data type, at least two of the data multiwords comprising a different number of bits;
• (c) constructing an effective tag value for each data multiword by concatenating each of the tags of the tagged single data words comprised by that data multiword;
• and
• (d) preventing an operation from being performed on that data multiword if the effective tag value for that data multiword is not one of a predetermined list of valid effective tag values for the operation.

A method for debugging a computer program comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming a plurality of tagged single data words by concatenating a tag to each such single data word, each such tag taking a value corresponding to the data type of the single data word to which it is concatenated;
• (b) creating a first data multiword by concatenating a plurality of tagged single data words having the same data type;
• (c) storing the first data multiword within a location in a computer memory, the location selected to ensure alignment of the first data multiword in accordance with its length;
• (d) constructing an effective tag value for the first data multiword by concatenating each of the tags of the tagged single data words comprised by the first data multiword;
• (e) preventing an operation from being performed on the first data multiword if the effective tag value is not one of a predetermined list of valid effective tag values for the operation;
• and
• (f) notifying a user in response to an attempt to perform the operation on the first data multiword.

A computer apparatus for providing a secure data architecture comprising:

• (a) a memory unit;
• and
• (b) a processing unit connected to the memory unit and programmed to:
• (i) form a plurality of tagged single data words for storage in the memory unit by concatenating a tag to each such single data word, each such tag taking a value corresponding to the data type of the single data word to which it is concatenated;
• (ii) create a data multiword by concatenating a plurality of tagged single data words having the same data type;
• (iii) store the data multiword within a location in the memory unit, the location selected to ensure alignment of the data multiword in accordance with its length;
• (iv) construct an effective tag value for the data multiword by concatenating each of the tags of the tagged single data words comprised by the data multiword;
• and
• (v) prevent an operation from being performed on the data multiword if the effective tag value is not one of a predetermined list of valid effective tag values for the operation.

A computer apparatus for providing a secure data architecture comprising:

• (a) a memory unit;
• and
• (b) a processing unit connected to the memory unit and programmed to:
• (i) form a plurality of tagged non-numeric single data words for storage in the memory unit by concatenating a tag to each such single data word, each such tag taking a value corresponding to the data type of the single data word to which it is concatenated;
• (ii) create a plurality of non-numeric data multiwords, each formed by concatenating a plurality of tagged single data words having the same non-numeric data type, at least two of the data multiwords comprising a different number of bits;
• (iii) construct an effective tag value for each data multiword by concatenating each of the tags of the tagged single data words comprised by that data multiword;
• and
• (iv) prevent an operation from being performed on that data multiword if the effective tag value for that data multiword is not one of a predetermined list of valid effective tag values for the operation.

A computer apparatus for debugging a computer program comprising:

• (a) a memory unit;
• and
• (b) a processing unit connected to the memory unit and programmed to:
• (i) form a plurality of tagged single data words for storage in the memory unit by concatenating a tag to each such single data word, each such tag taking a value corresponding to the data type of the single data word to which it is concatenated;
• (ii) create a first data multiword by concatenating a plurality of tagged single data words having the same data type;
• (iii) store the first data multiword within a location in the memory unit, the location selected to ensure alignment of the first data multiword in accordance with its length;
• (iv) construct an effective tag value for the first data multiword by concatenating each of the tags of the tagged single data words comprised by the first data multiword;
• (v) prevent an operation from being performed on the first data multiword if the effective tag value is not one of a predetermined list of valid effective tag values for the operation;
• and
• (vi) notify a user in response to an attempt to perform the operation on the first data multiword.