IP Library Granted Patent US 9,268,971
Granted Patent B2
US 9,268,971 · App. 11/524,517 · Granted Feb 23, 2016

Secure processor supporting multiple security functions

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,268,971
App. No.
11/524,517
Granted
Feb 23, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A secure processor such as a trusted platform module supports multiple security functions within a single secure processing environment. For example, the secure processor may be configured to perform functions in accordance with the TPM specification and to perform other, non-TPM, security functions. These security functions may be operated independently such that the operation of one security function does not violate or compromising the security of other security functions.

Claims (41)

1. A trusted platform module (TPM) comprising:

a secure processor;

TPM logic configured to implement security functions complying with a TPM standard; and

non-TPM logic configured to implement security functions that are independent of the TPM standard,

wherein the TPM logic is further configured to perform key management operations in support of the security functions, implemented by the non-TPM logic, that are independent of the TPM standard, and

wherein the TPM logic and the non-TPM logic are executed by the secure processor within a security boundary established by the TPM.

2. The TPM of claim 1 , wherein the security functions independent of the TPM standard are prevented from exposing, outside the security boundary, information related to the security functions that comply with the TPM standard.

3. The TPM of claim 1 , wherein the security functions independent of the TPM standard comprise an encryption algorithm.

4. The TPM of claim 1 , wherein the security functions independent of the TPM standard comprise an authentication function.

5. The TPM of claim 1 , wherein the key management operations are invoked by TPM commands received by the TPM.

6. The TPM of claim 5 , wherein the TPM commands are received via a TPM software stack.

7. The TPM of claim 5 , wherein the TPM commands are passed to the TPM logic via a TPM command bus.

8. The TPM of claim 1 , wherein the key management operations comprise authentication of access to a key.

9. The TPM of claim 1 , wherein the key management operations comprise loading a key.

10. The TPM of claim 1 , wherein the key management operations comprise evicting a key.

11. A method for adaptably processing, at a trusted platform module (TPM), commands that are compatible with a TPM standard and commands that are independent of the TPM standard, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a command;

(b) determining whether the command is compatible with the TPM standard;

(c) if so, performing a TPM function associated with the command using TPM logic executed by a secure processor within a security boundary established by the TPM; and

(d) if not, performing a non-TPM function associated with the command using non-TPM logic executed by the secure processor within the security boundary established by the TPM,

wherein the TPM logic performs key management operations in support of the command if the command is not compatible with the TPM standard.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of:

(e) returning a result to an application.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of:

(e) configuring the TPM to support the commands compatible with the TPM standard, performed before step a).

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of:

(e) configuring the TPM to support the commands that are independent of the TPM standard, performed before step a).

15. A device comprising:

a trusted platform module (TPM), wherein the TPM includes:

a secure processor;

TPM logic configured to implement TPM security functions complying with a TPM standard, and

non-TPM logic configured to implement non-TPM security functions that are independent of the TPM standard,

wherein the TPM logic and the non-TPM logic are executed by the secure processor within a security boundary established by the TPM, and

wherein the TPM logic is further configured to manage cryptographic keys for the TPM security functions and cryptographic keys for the non-TPM security functions in accordance with the TPM standard; and

a memory that stores encrypted keys and encrypted data for the TPM.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the device is a local area network (LAN)-on-motherboard (LOM).

17. The device of claim 15 , wherein the device is a network interface card.

18. The device of claim 15 , wherein the device further comprises:

a trusted security stack configured to receive TPM commands to invoke the TPM security functions within the TPM, TPM commands to invoke non-TPM functions within the TPM, and non-TPM commands to invoke the non-TPM functions within the TPM.

19. The device of claim 15 , wherein the non-TPM security functions are prevented from exposing, outside the security boundary, information related to the TPM security functions.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the command is prevented from exposing, outside the security boundary, information related to security functions that comply with the TPM standard if the command is not compatible with the TPM standard.

Assignments (5)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 3, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041712/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2016
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 039901/0237 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 10, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039646/0092 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037806/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2007
From: ALLEN, DOUGLAS; BUER, MARK
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018935/0405 →