Method and System for Accessing Protected Memory

• US 20070294497A1
• Filed: 01/08/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Iue-Shuenn
• Granted Patent: US 9,489,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/164
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1466 Key-lock mechanism

Abstract

Methods and systems for accessing protected memory are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include enabling access to protected memory on a chip when a user access key for the chip matches a customer specific access key that is pre-programmed and stored in a one-time programmable memory within the chip. The protected memory in the chip may comprise non-volatile memory. Portions of the protected memory may be allocated for access by different users. Accordingly, each user may have a different user access key to access the portion of the protected memory allocated to that user. A user may use offset to objects when sending commands to access the protected memory. The object may indicate memory address and data size. This may allow a level of abstraction where a customer may not need to know specific addresses for the portion of the protected memory being accessed.

Claims

1. A method for modifying memory, the method comprising:

enabling access to protected memory on a chip when a user access key for said chip matches a customer specific access key that is pre-programmed and stored in a one-time programmable memory within said chip.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said protected memory in said chip comprises non-volatile memory.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising allocating a plurality of portions of said protected memory in said chip for access by different customers, wherein each of said plurality of portions of said memory on said chip is accessed via a different user access key.

4. The method according to claim 3, comprising pre-programming at least one memory location in said plurality of portions of said protected memory.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising assigning a list of objects to each of said users, wherein an object indicates an address to a portion of said protected memory.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein an object in said list of objects indicates data size associated with said address to said portion of said protected memory.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein an object in said list of objects is accessed via an offset with respect to a first object in said list of objects.

8. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for modifying memory, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:

enabling access to protected memory on a chip when a user access key for said chip matches a customer specific access key that is pre-programmed and stored in a one-time programmable memory within said chip.

9. The machine-readable storage according to claim 8, wherein said protected memory in said chip comprises non-volatile memory.

10. The machine-readable storage according to claim 8, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for allocating a plurality of portions of said protected memory in said chip for access by different users, wherein each of said plurality of portions of said memory on said chip is accessed via a different user access key.

11. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for pre-programming at least one memory location in said plurality of portions of said protected memory.

12. The machine-readable storage according to claim 8, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for assigning a list of objects to each of said users, wherein an object indicates an address to a portion of said protected memory.

13. The machine-readable storage according to claim 12, wherein an object in said list of objects indicates data size associated with said address to said portion of said protected memory.

14. The machine-readable storage according to claim 12, wherein an object in said list of objects is accessed via an offset with respect to a first object in said list of objects.

15. A system for modifying memory, the system comprising:

circuitry that enables access to protected memory on a chip when a user access key for said chip matches a customer specific access key that is pre-programmed and stored in a one-time programmable memory within said chip.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said protected memory in said chip comprises non-volatile memory.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein a plurality of portions of said protected memory in said chip is allocated for access by different users, wherein each of said plurality of portions of said memory on said chip is accessed via a different user access key.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein at least one memory location in said plurality of portions of said protected memory is pre-programmed.

19. The system according to claim 15, comprising a customer object translator block that stores a list of objects for each of said users, wherein an object indicates an address to a portion of said protected memory.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein an object in said list of objects indicates data size associated with said address to said portion of said protected memory.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein an object in said list of objects is accessed via an offset with respect to a first object in said list of objects.