Method for ensuring security of program data in one-time programmable memory

• US 6,160,734 A
• Filed: 05/28/1999
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trepton Research Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Cavaliere, Francesco, Henderson, Alva
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, TRONG Q
• Application Number:
  US09/322,800
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 365/185.04, 379/413, 711/9, 711/100, 380/4
• US Class Current: 365/185.04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1441 for a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/22 Safety or protection circuits preventing unauthorised or accidental access to memory cells

Abstract

This application describes a method of protecting data and program code stored in an EPROM array from piracy. The security scheme allows for segmentation of the array to protect one section of the array from reading while programming a non-secure section. The security scheme also allows for protection of the entire array after programming is complete. It also incorporates a device to prevent tampering with the segmentation registers and a means to prevent circumvention of the security scheme even when the processor is in one or more of its test modes.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit comprising:

program memory;

a security register for storing a section boundary address corresponding to a boundary between first and second portions of said program memory;

a programmable processor, coupled to said program memory, for executing instructions stored in the first portion of said program memory, and instructions stored in the second portion of said program memory, the instructions including accesses to the program memory at an address corresponding to the contents of a data pointer;

a program counter, for storing a program memory address corresponding to an instruction being executed by the programmable processor; and

security logic, coupled to the programmable processor and the security register, and comprising boundary logic for disabling execution of an instruction responsive to the contents of the data pointer indicating a memory address in one of the portions of the program memory in combination with the program memory address corresponding to an address in another one of the portions of the program memory.

2. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the security register comprises a plurality of bit locations that are bit-programmable from a first state to a second state but not from the second state to the first state;

and wherein said security logic further comprises;

complement logic, coupled to the security register, for disabling execution of an instruction responsive to a first group of bits of said security register not corresponding to the complement of a second group of bits of said security register.

3. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein said programmable processor is capable of operation in at least two selectable test modes;

and wherein said programmable processor reads the contents of the security register responsive to changing its mode of operation from one of the test modes to another of the test modes.

4. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the boundary logic disables execution of a plurality of instructions responsive to the contents of the data pointer indicating a memory address in one of the portions of the program memory in combination with the program memory address corresponding to an address in another one of the portions of the program memory, the plurality of instructions comprising a table lookup instruction.

5. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the boundary logic disables execution of a plurality of instructions responsive to the contents of the data pointer indicating a memory address in one of the portions of the program memory in combination with the program memory address corresponding to an address in another one of the portions of the program memory, the plurality of instructions comprising a write to the program memory.

6. A microprocessor, comprising:

a computational unit for executing program instructions upon data;

data memory, coupled to the computational unit, for storing data operands;

program memory coupled to said computational unit for storing instructions executable by the computational unit;

a security register for storing a section boundary address corresponding to a boundary between first and second portions of said program memory;

a program counter, for storing a program memory address corresponding to an instruction being executed by the computational logic;

a data pointer, for storing a memory address corresponding to a memory location to be accessed in execution of an instruction; and

boundary control logic, coupled to the security register, to the program counter, and to the data pointer, for blocking memory access responsive to the contents of the data pointer indicating a memory address in one of the portions of the program memory in combination with the program memory address corresponding to an address in another one of the portions of the program memory.

7. The microprocessor of claim 6, wherein the security register comprises a plurality of bit locations that are bit-programmable from a first state to a second state but not from the second state to the first state;

and further comprising;

complement logic, coupled to the security register, for disabling execution of an instruction responsive to a first group of bits of said security register not corresponding to the complement of a second group of bits of said security register.

8. The microprocessor of claim 6, wherein the microprocessor is capable of operation in at least two selectable test modes;

and wherein said microprocessor reads the contents of the security register responsive to changing its mode of operation from one of the test modes to another of the test modes.

9. The microprocessor of claim 6, wherein the boundary logic disables execution of a plurality of instructions responsive to the contents of the data pointer indicating a memory address in one of the portions of the program memory in combination with the program memory address corresponding to an address in another one of the portions of the program memory, the plurality of instructions comprising a table lookup instruction.

10. The microprocessor of claim 6, wherein the boundary logic disables execution of a plurality of instructions responsive to the contents of the data pointer indicating a memory address in one of the portions of the program memory in combination with the program memory address corresponding to an address in another one of the portions of the program memory, the plurality of instructions comprising a write to the program memory.

11. The microprocessor of claim 6, wherein the data memory and program memory are arranged in a single memory resource.

12. A telephone answering machine, comprising:

a microprocessor, comprising;

a computational unit for executing program instructions upon data;

data memory, coupled to the computational unit, for storing data operands;

program memory coupled to said computational unit for storing instructions executable by the computational unit;

a security register for storing a section boundary address corresponding to a boundary between first and second portions of said program memory;

a program counter, for storing a program memory address corresponding to an instruction being executed by the computational logic;

a data pointer, for storing a memory address corresponding to a memory location to be accessed in execution of an instruction; and

boundary control logic, coupled to the security register, to the program counter, and to the data pointer, for blocking memory access responsive to the contents of the data pointer indicating a memory address in one of the portions of the program memory in combination with the program memory address corresponding to an address in another one of the portions of the program memory;

an interface operatively connected said microprocessor to a telephone line in such a way as to receive and send messages;

a microphone operatively connected to said microprocessor in such a way as to record sound for storage within the answering machine; and

a speaker operatively connected to said microprocessor in such a way as to play back sounds stored within the answering machine.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the security register comprises a plurality of bit locations that are bit-programmable from a first state to a second state but not from the second state to the first state;

and wherein the microprocessor further comprises;

complement logic, coupled to the security register, for disabling execution of an instruction responsive to a first group of bits of said security register not corresponding to the complement of a second group of bits of said security register.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the microprocessor is capable of operation in at least two selectable test modes;

and wherein said microprocessor reads the contents of the security register responsive to changing its mode of operation from one of the test modes to another of the test modes.