Electronic device having a runtime integrity checker
AssigneeNXP USA, Inc.
InventorsArthur Stuart Mackay, Graham Edmiston
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic device has a runtime integrity checker for monitoring contents of storage locations in an address range. The runtime integrity checker has a location selector for selecting the storage locations by generating addresses within the address range for locations to be checked, an interface unit coupled to the location selector for receiving the addresses for accessing the locations to be checked via a bus interface, and a processor coupled to the interface unit for retrieving the contents from the locations to be checked. A mask unit is provided for processing a mask for defining the locations to be checked based on bits in the mask. The hardware enables selective monitoring of non contiguous storage locations or data areas.
Claims20
Electronic device having a runtime integrity checker for monitoring contents of storage locations in an address range,
- the runtime integrity checker comprising:
- a location selector for selecting the storage locations by generating addresses within the address range for locations to be checked,
- an interface unit coupled to the location selector for receiving the addresses for accessing the locations to be checked via a bus interface,
- a processor coupled to the interface unit for retrieving the contents from the locations to be checked, and
- a mask unit for processing a mask coupled to the location selector for defining the locations to be checked based on bits in the mask, wherein the locations to be checked consists of data that is not expected to change during runtime of the electronic device, and wherein locations that are not checked consists of data that is expected to change during runtime of the electronic device.
Method of monitoring contents of storage locations in an address range of a processor,
- the monitoring comprising:
- selecting the storage locations by generating addresses within the address range for locations to be checked,
- accessing the locations to be checked using the addresses,
- retrieving the contents from the locations to be checked, and
- processing a mask for defining the locations to be checked based on bits in the mask, wherein the locations to be checked consists of data that is not expected to change during runtime of the processor, and wherein locations that are not checked consists of data that is expected to change during runtime of the processor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.