Arm Limited

Intel Corporation

Yiannakis Sazeides

Daniel Kershaw

Ron Gabor

Stuart David Biles

Emre Özer

Arkady Bramnik

Emre Ozer

Alex Gerber

Jean-Baptiste Brelot

A processor of an aspect includes a plurality of physical storage locations, and a register rename unit. The register rename unit includes a first register rename storage structure that is to store a given physical storage location identifier, which is to identify a physical storage location of the plurality of physical storage locations, and that is to store a corresponding given one or more redundant bits. The register rename unit also includes a second register rename storage structure. The register rename unit also includes a first conductive path coupling the first and second register rename storage structures. The first conductive path is to convey the given one or more redundant bits end-to-end from the first register rename storage structure to the second register rename storage structure. Other processors are also disclosed, as well as methods and systems.

End-to end transmission of redundant bits for physical storage location identifiers between first and second register rename storage structures

A processor includes physical storage locations, and a register rename unit that includes a plurality of register rename storage structures. At a given time, each of a complete group of physical storage location identifiers is to be stored in one, but only one, of the plurality of register rename storage structures, unless there is an error. Each of the complete group of physical storage location identifiers is to identify a different one of the physical storage locations. The register rename unit is to detect an error when a first value, which is to be equal to an operation on the complete group of the physical storage location identifiers with no errors, is inconsistent with a second value. The second value is to represent the operation on all physical storage location identifiers that are to be stored in the plurality of register rename storage structures at the given time.

Detecting errors in register renaming by comparing value representing complete error free set of identifiers and value representing identifiers in register rename unit

A data processing apparatus has a plurality of storage elements residing at different physical locations within the apparatus, and fault history circuitry for detecting local transient faults occurring in each storage element, and for maintaining global transient fault history data based on the detected local transient faults. Analysis circuitry monitors the global transient fault history data to determine, based on predetermined criteria, whether the global transient fault history data is indicative of random transient faults occurring within the data processing apparatus, or is indicative of a coordinated transient fault attack. The analysis circuitry is then configured to initiate a countermeasure action on determination of a coordinated transient fault attack. This provides a simple and effective mechanism for distinguishing between random transient faults that may naturally occur, and a coordinated transient fault attack that may be initiated in an attempt to circumvent the security of the data processing apparatus.

Data processing apparatus and method for analysing transient faults occurring within storage elements of the data processing apparatus

A data processing apparatus is provided having error code generation circuitry configured to generate an error code associated with a received data value, such that a bit change in the received data value can be known about by reference to the error code. Stored data values are stored in a data store and associated error codes are stored in an error code store. Error checking circuitry performs a verification operation on a stored data value and an associated error code to determine if an error has occurred in at least one of the stored data value and the associated error code during storage. The received data value comprises at least one additional bit with respect to the stored data value and the error checking circuitry is configured to reconstruct the at least one additional bit by reference to the stored data value and the associated error code.

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Nicosia, Cyprus

Yiannakis Sazeides