Microprocessor apparatus for secure on-die real-time clock

• US 8,522,354 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2008
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VIA Technologies Incorporated (VIA Technologies)
• Original Assignee: VIA Technologies Incorporated (VIA Technologies)
• Inventors: Henry, G. Glenn, Parks, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): Augustin, Evens J
• Application Number:
  US12/263,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20090293132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,761 Days
• Field of Search: 705/51, 705/53, 705/56, 726/26
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1408 by using cryptography for digital transmission H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/12 Protecting executable software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/14 against software analysis or reverse engineering, e.g. by obfuscation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/554 involving event detection and direct action
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/70 Protecting specific internal or peripheral components, in which the protection of a component leads to protection of the entire computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/71 to assure secure computing or processing of information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/72 in cryptographic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/73 by creating or determining hardware identification, e.g. serial numbers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/74 operating in dual or compartmented mode, i.e. at least one secure mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/82 Protecting input, output or interconnection devices

Abstract

An apparatus including a microprocessor and an external crystal. The microprocessor executes non-secure application programs and a secure application program, where the secure application program comprises instructions from a host architecture instruction set, and where the non-secure application programs are accessed from a system memory via a system bus and the secure application program is accessed from a secure non-volatile memory via a private bus coupled to the microprocessor. The microprocessor has a secure real time clock that provides a persistent time, where the secure real time clock is only visible and accessible by the secure application program when the microprocessor is executing in a secure mode. The external crystal is coupled to the secure real time clock within the microprocessor and is configured to cause an oscillator within the secure real time clock to generate an oscillating output voltage that is proportional to the frequency of the external crystal.

Claims

1. An apparatus providing for a secure execution environment, comprising:

a microprocessor, configured to execute non-secure application programs and a secure application program, wherein said secure application program comprises instructions from a host architecture instruction set, and wherein said microprocessor encrypts said secure application program using a processor unique key to store an encrypted version of said secure application program in a secure non-volatile memory that is coupled to said microprocessor via a private bus, and wherein said non-secure application programs are accessed from a system memory via a system bus and said secure application program is accessed from said secure non-volatile memory, said microprocessor comprising;

a secure real time clock, configured to provide a persistent time, wherein said secure real time clock is only visible and accessible by said secure application program when said microprocessor is executing in a secure mode; and

an external crystal, coupled to said secure real time clock within said microprocessor, configured to cause an oscillator within said secure real time clock to generate an oscillating output voltage that is proportional to the frequency of said external crystal.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said secure real time clock comprises a counter, coupled to said oscillator, configured to count a number of cycles of said oscillating output voltage, and configured to convert said number of cycles to a count value.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an external battery, coupled to said secure real time clock, configured to provide a voltage to power said secure real time clock, thereby providing for persistent operation of said secure real time clock as long as said voltage is within an acceptable range.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said secure real time clock comprises:

conversion logic, configured to receive a count value from a counter within said secure real time clock, and configured to convert said count value to said persistent time value.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said conversion logic is configured to detect a significant variation of said voltage.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said conversion logic is configured to detect a significant variation of the frequency of said external crystal.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said conversion logic is configured to assert signals to interrupt said secure application program to indicate tampering with said external crystal or said external battery.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said conversion logic is configured to evaluate a signal indicating die temperature to determine temperature excursions that may cause said persistent time to be inaccurate, and configured to generate an secure interrupt signal to interrupt said secure application program.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

a motherboard, configured to provide for mounting and interconnection of said microprocessor, said external crystal, and said external battery.

10. A microprocessor apparatus, for executing secure code within a secure execution environment, the microprocessor apparatus comprising:

a secure non-volatile memory, configured to store an encrypted version of a secure application program, wherein said secure application program comprises instructions from a host architecture instruction set;

a microprocessor, coupled to said secure non-volatile memory via a private bus, configured to encrypt said secure application program using a processor unique key to store said encrypted version of said secure application program in said secure non-volatile memory, and configured to execute non-secure application programs and said secure application program, said microprocessor comprising;

a secure real time clock, configured to provide a persistent time, wherein said secure real time clock is only visible and accessible by said secure application program when said microprocessor is executing in a secure mode; and

an external crystal, coupled to said secure real time clock within said microprocessor, configured to cause an oscillator within said secure real time clock to generate an oscillating output voltage that is proportional to the frequency of said external crystal.

11. The microprocessor apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said secure real time clock comprises a counter, coupled to said oscillator, configured to count a number of cycles of said oscillating output voltage, and configured to convert said number of cycles to a count value.

12. The microprocessor apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

an external battery, coupled to said secure real time clock, configured to provide a voltage to power said secure real time clock, thereby providing for persistent operation of said secure real time clock as long as said voltage is within an acceptable range.

13. The microprocessor apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said secure real time clock comprises:

conversion logic, configured to receive a count value from a counter within said secure real time clock, and configured to convert said count value to said persistent time value.

14. The microprocessor apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said conversion logic is configured to detect a significant variation of said voltage.

15. The microprocessor apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said conversion logic is configured to detect a significant variation of the frequency of said external crystal.

16. The microprocessor apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said conversion logic is configured to assert signals to interrupt said secure application program to indicate tampering with said external crystal or said external battery.

17. The microprocessor apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said conversion logic is configured to evaluate a signal indicating die temperature to determine temperature excursions that may cause said persistent time to be inaccurate, and configured to generate an secure interrupt signal to interrupt said secure application program.

18. A method for executing secure code within a secure execution environment, the method comprising:

encrypting the secure code using a processor unique key;

storing the secure code in a secure non-volatile memory over a private bus for execution by a microprocessor that is coupled to the secure non-volatile memory, wherein the secure code comprises instructions from a host architecture instruction set, and wherein the private bus is isolated from all system bus resources within the microprocessor and external to the microprocessor, and wherein the private bus is observable and accessible exclusively by secure execution logic within the microprocessor;

fetching the secure code from a secure non-volatile memory;

via a secure real time clock within the microprocessor, providing a persistent time, wherein the secure real time clock is only visible and accessible by the secure code; and

coupling an external crystal to the microprocessor that causes an oscillator within the real time clock to generate an oscillating output voltage that is proportional to the frequency of the external crystal.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the secure real time clock comprises a counter, coupled to the oscillator, configured to count a number of cycles of the oscillating output voltage, and configured to convert the number of cycles to a count value.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising:

coupling an external battery to the microprocessor that provides a voltage to power the secure real time clock, thereby providing for persistent operation of the secure real time clock as long as the voltage is within an acceptable range.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein said secure real time clock comprises:

conversion logic, configured to receive a count value from a counter within the secure real time clock, and configured to convert the count value to the persistent time value.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the conversion logic is configured to detect a significant variation of the voltage.

23. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the conversion logic is configured to detect a significant variation of the frequency of the external crystal.

24. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the conversion logic is configured to assert signals to interrupt the secure code to indicate tampering with the external crystal or the external battery.

25. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the conversion logic is configured to evaluate a signal indicating die temperature to determine temperature excursions that may cause the persistent time to be inaccurate, and configured to generate an secure interrupt signal to interrupt the secure code.