Apparatuses for securing program code stored in a non-volatile memory
AssigneeNuvoton Technology Corporation
InventorsChen Chun Huang, Kuo En Hsu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An embodiment of an apparatus for securing program code stored in a non-volatile memory is introduced. A non-volatile memory contains a first region and a second region. Two NVMMCS (non-volatile memory management controllers respectively coupled to the two regions. A programming command-and-address decoder is coupled to the NVMMCS. The programming command-and-address decoder instructs the first NVMMC to erase data from the first region when receiving a command to erase the first region via a programming interface, and instructs the second NVMMC to erase data from the second region when receiving a command to erase the second region via the programming interface.
Claims10
An apparatus for securing program code stored in a non-volatile memory, comprising:
- a non-volatile memory comprising a security byte, in which a security byte value is employed to indicate the non-volatile memory is in an available status or a protected status;
- a NVMMC (non-volatile memory management controller) coupled to the non-volatile memory, and accessing data stored in the non-volatile memory;
- a CPU (central processing unit) coupled to the NVMMC, and commanding the NVMMC to access the data stored in the non-volatile memory;
- and
- a chip debugger coupled to the CPU, obtaining the security byte value when receiving a debugging command from a debugging interface;
- performing at least a determination according to the security byte value;
- and deciding whether to block the debugging command from execution according to a result of the determination.
An apparatus for securing program code stored in a non-volatile memory, comprising:
- a non-volatile memory comprising a security byte, in which a security byte value is employed to indicate the non-volatile memory is in an available status or a protected status;
- a CPU (central processing unit);
- and
- a NVMMC (non-volatile memory management controller) coupled to the CPU, obtaining a command to read program code stored in the non-volatile memory;
- obtaining the security byte value;
- and replying to the CPU with the security byte value rather than the program code of the non-volatile memory when the security byte value indicates that the non-volatile memory is in the protected status.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.