Methods to securely configure an FPGA using macro markers
First Claim
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1. A method to program an FPGA comprising the steps of:
- creating a marked design file incorporating a first macro marker identifying a first macro and further incorporating a user design including said first macro;
replacing said first macro marker with said first macro in said marked design file; and
converting said marked design file into configuration data, wherein said configuration data incorporates said first macro and said user design.
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Abstract
A method is provided for securely configuring an FPGA with macros. Specifically, if an end user desires to use a macro from a macro vendor, the end user creates a marked design file containing a macro marker rather than the actual macro. The marked design file is converted into configuration data by a macro manager. Specifically, the macro manager obtains the macro from the macro vendor and replaces the macro marker with the macro prior to converting the design file into configuration data. The macro manager provides the configuration data to the end user. Because only the macro manager has access to the macro, the possibility of unlicensed use of the macro is diminished.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method to program an FPGA comprising the steps of:
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creating a marked design file incorporating a first macro marker identifying a first macro and further incorporating a user design including said first macro;
replacing said first macro marker with said first macro in said marked design file; and
converting said marked design file into configuration data, wherein said configuration data incorporates said first macro and said user design. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method to program an FPGA comprising the steps of:
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creating a marked design file incorporating a first macro marker identifying a first macro;
providing said marked design file to a macro manager, wherein said macro manager incorporates said first macro into said marked design file based on said first macro marker; and
receiving configuration data from said macro manager based on said marked design file. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method to acquire a programmed FPGA, the method comprising the steps of:
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creating a marked design file incorporating a first macro marker identifying a first macro;
providing said marked design file to a macro manager, wherein the macro manager incorporates said first macro into said marked design file based on said first macro marker, generates configuration data based on said marked design file, and programs an FPGA with said configuration data to generate the programmed FPGA; and
receiving the programmed FGPA from the macro manager. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A method to program an FPGA comprising the steps of:
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receiving a marked design file incorporating a first macro marker identifying a first macro from an end user;
replacing said first macro marker with said first macro in said marked design file; and
converting said marked design file into configuration data. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
programming said FPGA with said configuration data; and
providing said FPGA to said end user.
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27. The method of claim 24, wherein said marked design file incorporates a second macro marker identifying a second macro.
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28. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of obtaining said first macro from a first macro vendor.
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29. The method of claim 24, where said step of converting said marked design file into configuration data comprises a step of replacing said first macro marker with said first macro.
Specification