Method and system for improved fault tolerance in distributed customization controls using non-volatile memory

• US 9,497,022 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Iue-Shuenn, Chen, Xuemin
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Dao
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLMES, ANGELA R
• Application Number:
  US11/558,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20080022371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,659 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/12 Details relating to cryptographic hardware or logic circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/004 for fault attacks

Abstract

Certain aspects of a method and system for improved fault tolerance in distributed customization controls using non-volatile memory are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include mapping an input control signal to a plurality of input logic circuits within a security processor. A plurality of independent processing paths may be defined between each of the plurality of input logic circuits and an output logic circuit. Each of the plurality of independent processing paths may comprise one or more logic circuits. The input control signal may be routed via at least a portion of the plurality of independent processing paths. The portion of the plurality of independent processing paths may be combined in the output logic circuit to generate the input control signal.

Claims

1. A method for processing information in a communication system, the method comprising:

encrypting an input control signal;

mapping said encrypted input control signal to a plurality of input logic circuits;

routing said mapped encrypted input control signal via at least a portion of a plurality of independent processing paths between each of said plurality of input logic circuits and an output logic circuit, wherein each of said plurality of independent processing paths comprises at least one logic circuit;

combining outputs of said at least a portion of said plurality of independent processing paths in said output logic circuit to re-generate said encrypted input control signal; and

decrypting said encrypted input control signal after said combining.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of input logic circuits is one or more of:

a non-volatile memory, a secure flash electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a flash RAM, and a flip-flop.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said output logic circuit is one of:

a non-volatile memory, a secure flash electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a flash RAM, and a flip-flop.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one logic circuit is one or more of:

a non-volatile memory, a secure flash electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a flash RAM, and a flip-flop.

5. A non-transitory machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for processing information in a communication system, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform operations comprising:

encrypting an input control signal;

mapping said encrypted input control signal to a plurality of input logic circuits;

routing said mapped encrypted input control signal via at least a portion of a plurality of independent processing paths between each of said plurality of input logic circuits and an output logic circuit, wherein each of said plurality of independent processing paths comprises at least one logic circuit;

combining outputs of said at least a portion of said plurality of independent processing paths in said output logic circuit to re-generate said encrypted input control signal; and

decrypting said encrypted input control signal after said combining.

6. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 5, wherein each of said plurality of input logic circuits is one or more of:

a non-volatile memory, a secure flash electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a flash RAM, and a flip-flop.

7. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 5, wherein said output logic circuit is one of:

a non-volatile memory, a secure flash electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a flash RAM, and a flip-flop.

8. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 5, wherein said at least one logic circuit is one or more of:

a non-volatile memory, a secure flash electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a flash RAM, and a flip-flop.

9. A system for processing information, the system comprising:

one or more circuits configured to;

encrypt an input control signal;

map said encrypted input control signal to a plurality of input logic circuits;

route said mapped encrypted input control signal via at least a portion of a plurality of independent processing paths between each of said plurality of input logic circuits and an output logic circuit, wherein each of said plurality of independent processing paths comprises at least one logic circuit;

combine outputs of said at least a portion of said plurality of independent processing paths in said output logic circuit to re-generate said encrypted input control signal; and

decrypt said encrypted input control signal after said combining.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein each of said plurality of input logic circuits is one or more of:

a non-volatile memory, a secure flash electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a flash RAM, and a flip-flop.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein said output logic circuit is one of:

a non-volatile memory, a secure flash electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a flash RAM, and a flip-flop.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein said at least one logic circuit is one or more of:

a non-volatile memory, a secure flash electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a flash RAM, and a flip-flop.