Methods and apparatus for secure data processing and transmission
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a local memory;
a bus operable to carry information to and from the local memory;
one or more arithmetic processing units operable to process data and operatively coupled to the local memory; and
a security circuit including a secret data area that is not accessible by devices outside the security circuit, the secret data area containing a first key and a second key, and the security circuit includes an accessible data area that is accessible by devices outside the security circuit, the security circuit being operable to;
place the apparatus into any of a plurality of operational modes, wherein the plurality of operational modes includes at least;
(i) a first mode whereby the apparatus and an external device are operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the local memory over the bus,(ii) a second mode whereby neither the apparatus nor the external device are operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the memory over the bus, and(iii) a third mode whereby the apparatus is operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the local memory over the bus, but the external device is not operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the local memory over the bus; and
place a copy of the first key in the accessible data area when the apparatus is in the second mode.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for placing a processing unit into one or more of a plurality of operational modes are disclosed wherein: the apparatus includes a local memory, a bus operable to carry information to and from the local memory, one or more arithmetic processing units operable to process data and operatively coupled to the local memory, and a security circuit operable to place the apparatus into the operational modes; and the plurality of operational modes includes a first mode whereby the apparatus and an external device may initiate a transfer of information into or out of the memory over the bus, a second mode whereby neither the apparatus nor the external device may initiate a transfer of information into or out of the memory over the bus, and a third mode whereby the apparatus may initiate a transfer of information into or out of the memory over the bus, but the external device may not initiate a transfer of information into or out of the memory over the bus.
17 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a local memory; a bus operable to carry information to and from the local memory; one or more arithmetic processing units operable to process data and operatively coupled to the local memory; and a security circuit including a secret data area that is not accessible by devices outside the security circuit, the secret data area containing a first key and a second key, and the security circuit includes an accessible data area that is accessible by devices outside the security circuit, the security circuit being operable to; place the apparatus into any of a plurality of operational modes, wherein the plurality of operational modes includes at least; (i) a first mode whereby the apparatus and an external device are operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the local memory over the bus, (ii) a second mode whereby neither the apparatus nor the external device are operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the memory over the bus, and (iii) a third mode whereby the apparatus is operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the local memory over the bus, but the external device is not operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the local memory over the bus; and place a copy of the first key in the accessible data area when the apparatus is in the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A plurality of processing units disposed in a single device, at least two of the processing units comprising:
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a local memory; a bus operable to carry information to and from the local memory; one or more arithmetic processing units operable to process data and operatively coupled to the local memory; and a security circuit including a secret data area that is not accessible by devices outside the security circuit, the secret data area containing a first key and a second key, and the security circuit includes an accessible data area that is accessible by devices outside the security circuit, the security circuit being operable to; place the apparatus into the operational modes, wherein the plurality of operational modes includes at least; (i) a first mode whereby the apparatus and an external device are operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the memory over the bus, (ii) a second mode whereby neither the apparatus nor the external device are operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the memory over the bus, and (iii) a third mode whereby the apparatus is operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the local memory over the bus, but the external device is not operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the local memory over the bus; and place a copy of the first key in the accessible data area when the apparatus is in the second mode.
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10. A method, comprising:
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placing an apparatus into at least one of a plurality of operational modes, wherein; the apparatus includes a local memory, a bus operable to carry information to and from the local memory, one or more arithmetic processing units operable to process data and operatively coupled to the local memory, and a security circuit operable to place the apparatus into the operational modes; and the plurality of operational modes includes at least; (i) a first mode whereby the apparatus and an external device are operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the memory over the bus, (ii) a second mode whereby neither the apparatus nor the external device are operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the memory over the bus, and (iii) a third mode whereby the apparatus is operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the local memory over the bus, but the external device is not operable to initiate a transfer of information into or out of the local memory over the bus, wherein the security circuit includes a secret data area that is not accessible by devices outside the security circuit, the secret data area containing a first key and a second key, and the security circuit includes an accessible data area that is accessible by devices outside the security circuit, and the method further comprises placing a copy of the first key in the accessible data area when the apparatus is in the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification