DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. A data processing system, the data processing system comprising:
- a host processor that executes an operating system;
an accelerator operable to process data under the control of the operating system executing on the host processor;
and memory for storing data to be used or processed by or generated by the accelerator, the memory being configurable to have both protected memory regions that are not readable by the operating system when it is operating in a non-secure mode and non-protected memory regions that are readable by the operating system when it is operating in a non-secure mode;
wherein;
the accelerator can be switched between a normal mode of operation in which the accelerator has read and write access to data that is stored in non-protected memory regions but no or write-only access to any protected memory regions, and a protected mode of operation in which the accelerator has read and write access to data that is stored in protected memory regions but only has read-only access to any non-protected memory regions; and
the data processing system further comprises a mechanism for switching the accelerator from its normal mode of operation to the protected mode of operation, and from its protected mode of operation to the normal mode of operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data processing system includes a host processor and a graphics processing unit operable to process data under the control of an operating system executing on the host processor. The graphics processing unit can be switched between a normal mode of operation in which the it has read and write access to data that is stored in non-protected memory regions 9 but no or write-only access to any protected memory regions 8, and a protected mode of operation in which it has read and write access to data that is stored in protected memory regions 8 but only has read-only access to any non-protected memory regions 9. The data processing system further comprises a mechanism for switching the graphics processing unit from its normal mode of operation to the protected mode of operation, and from its protected mode of operation to the normal mode of operation.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A data processing system, the data processing system comprising:
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a host processor that executes an operating system; an accelerator operable to process data under the control of the operating system executing on the host processor; and memory for storing data to be used or processed by or generated by the accelerator, the memory being configurable to have both protected memory regions that are not readable by the operating system when it is operating in a non-secure mode and non-protected memory regions that are readable by the operating system when it is operating in a non-secure mode;
wherein;the accelerator can be switched between a normal mode of operation in which the accelerator has read and write access to data that is stored in non-protected memory regions but no or write-only access to any protected memory regions, and a protected mode of operation in which the accelerator has read and write access to data that is stored in protected memory regions but only has read-only access to any non-protected memory regions; and the data processing system further comprises a mechanism for switching the accelerator from its normal mode of operation to the protected mode of operation, and from its protected mode of operation to the normal mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a data processing system that comprises:
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a host processor that executes an operating system; an accelerator operable to process data under the control of the operating system executing on the host processor; and memory for storing data to be used or processed by or generated by the accelerator, the memory being configurable to have both protected memory regions that are not readable by the operating system when it is operating in a non-secure mode and non-protected memory regions that are readable by the operating system when it is operating in a non-secure mode;
wherein;the accelerator can be switched between a normal mode of operation in which it has read and write access to data that is stored in non-protected memory regions but no or write-only access to any protected memory regions, and a protected mode of operation in which the accelerator has read and write access to data that is stored in protected memory regions but only has read-only access to any non-protected memory regions; the method comprising; when it is desired to use the accelerator to perform protected processing of data; switching the accelerator to its protected mode of operation; the accelerator, whilst it is operating in its protected mode of operation, reading data from and writing data to protected regions of the memory, and reading data from, but not writing data to, non-protected regions of the memory; and when the accelerator has completed its protected processing task, switching the accelerator back to its normal mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer readable storage medium storing computer software code which when executing on a processor performs a method of operating a data processing system that comprises:
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a host processor that executes an operating system; an accelerator operable to process data under the control of the operating system executing on the host processor; and memory for storing data to be used or processed by or generated by the accelerator, the memory being configurable to have both protected memory regions that are not accessible to the operating system when it is operating in a non-secure mode and non-protected memory regions that are accessible to the operating system when it is operating in a non-secure mode;
wherein;the accelerator can be switched between a normal mode of operation in which it has read and write access to data that is stored in non-protected memory regions but no or write-only access to any protected memory regions, and a protected mode of operation in which the accelerator has read and write access to data that is stored in protected memory regions but only has read-only access to any non-protected memory regions; the method comprising; when it is desired to use the accelerator to perform protected processing of data; switching the accelerator to its protected mode of operation; the accelerator, whilst it is operating in its protected mode of operation, reading data from and writing data to protected regions of the memory, and reading data from, but not writing data to, non-protected regions of the memory; and when the accelerator has completed its protected processing task, switching the accelerator back to its normal mode of operation.
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Specification