US 7,444,523 B2 · System and method for using address bits to signal security attributes of data in the address space

Abstract

A integrity control system uses the address bits to enable encryption and/or protection of data stored in a system memory. The encryption and protection mechanisms are coupled to the CPU by way of a data bus and to the memory by way of a data bus. An address bus that determines the location of data to be stored or retrieved from system memory has a plurality of address lines. At least one of the address lines enabling the encryption mechanism to encrypt data before storage in the memory and to decrypt data after retrieval from memory. Another address line enables the protection mechanism to generate a hash of the data. The hash is stored and used to determine whether data has been altered while stored in system memory.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A system for storing data in a memory, comprising:

a CPU;
a security mechanism coupled to the CPU by way of a data bus and the memory by way of a data bus;
an address bus having a plurality of address lines, said address lines divided into two sets of address lines wherein at least one of said address lines is coupled to said security mechanism to enable the security mechanism to provide security to the data before storage in the memory;
and wherein the remaining address lines simultaneously providing the address in physical memory to store data on the data bus.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for using address bits to signal security attributes of data in the address space

Life of this patent

System and method for using address bits to signal security attributes of data in the address space

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23