Dynamic containerized system memory protection for low-energy MCUs

    公开(公告)号:US09984009B2

    公开(公告)日:2018-05-29

    申请号:US15008650

    申请日:2016-01-28

    摘要: A processor, such as a low-cost microcontroller unit, uses a DMA controller to facilitate direct memory transactions between hardware subsystems independently of the CPU. To enable those transactions to be carried out security, gateways are provided to the DMA controller and peripheral bridge. The gateways, which have access to multiple access policies, switch between those policies depending on a hardware context and/or subcontext, such as the bus master originating the transaction and/or the DMA channel associated with the transaction. The gateways are operable to administer those policies independently of the CPU. In various implementations, gateways are provided for the DMA controller, the peripheral bridge, and/or individual peripherals. The processor is able to support secure, fully containerized operations involving its peripherals without constant CPU intervention.

    MEMORY PROTECTING UNIT AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING A MEMORY ADDRESS SPACE

    公开(公告)号:US20180113816A1

    公开(公告)日:2018-04-26

    申请号:US15784403

    申请日:2017-10-16

    IPC分类号: G06F12/14 G06F12/06 G06F21/62

    摘要: A memory protector is configured to evaluate access requests referring to a memory address space. The access requests comprise address parameters referring to addresses of the memory address space. The memory protector comprises an address evaluator, an address results combiner, and a data register. The address evaluator is configured to evaluate whether the address parameters refer to address ranges of a set of address ranges and is configured to provide results regarding the address ranges. The address results combiner is configured to combine results provided by the address evaluator depending on access protection groups to which the address ranges are mapped to. The memory protector is configured to provide access grant results based on combinations provided by the address results combiner. The data register is configured to store data concerning the set of address ranges and concerning a mapping of the address ranges to the access protection groups.