Texas Instruments Corporation

Eric Balard

Jerome Laurent Azema

Alain Bruno Chateau

Jacques Sonzogni

A computing platform () protects system firmware () using a manufacturer certificate (). The manufacturer certificate binds the system firmware () to the particular computing platform (). The manufacturer certificate also stores configuration parameters and device identification numbers. A secure run-time platform data checker () and a secure run-time checker () check the system firmware during operation of the computing platform () to ensure that the system firmware () or information in the manufacturer certificate () has not been altered. Application software files () and data files () are bound to the particular computing device () by a platform certificate (). Configuration parameters may be stored in a data file () with an associated platform certificate ().

Secure management of configuration parameters in a computing platform

A computing platform () protects system firmware () using a manufacturer certificate (). The manufacturer certificate binds the system firmware () to the particular computing platform (). The manufacturer certificate may also store configuration parameters and device identification numbers. A secure run-time platform data checker () and a secure run-time checker () check the system firmware during operation of the computing platform () to ensure that the system firmware () or information in the manufacturer certificate () has not been altered. Application software files () and data files () are bound to the particular computing device () by a platform certificate (). A key generator may be used to generate a random key and an encrypted key may be generated by encrypting the random key using a secret identification number associated with the particular computing platform (). Only the encrypted key is stored in the platform certificate ().

Run-time firmware authentication

This invention describes a real-time failure detection system for the inputs of an analog-to-digital converter. A novel mechanism is proposed that provides recognition of an ADC input pin failure through the digital result obtained. The device includes a specific hardware architecture which can be added to any ADC core. This is especially useful in safety applications (where FMEA is a main concern), as it greatly increases the reliability of the analog data measured.

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Vence, France

Eric Balard