IP Library Granted Patent US 11,663,146
Granted Patent B2
US 11,663,146 · App. 16/806,227 · Granted May 30, 2023

Security of embedded devices through a device lifecycle with a device identifier

Inventor: Michael Simmons (Chandler, AZ)
Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
G06F12/1416G06F3/0616G06F3/0653G06F3/0659G06F3/0679
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,663,146
App. No.
16/806,227
Granted
May 30, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus includes a database with device profiles, and a device programmer. The device programmer includes instructions. The instructions, when read and executed by a processor, cause the device programmer to identify a device identifier of an electronic device. The device programmer is further caused to, based upon the device identifier, access device data from the database. The device programmer is further caused to, based upon the device data, determine an area of memory of the electronic device that can be written. The device programmer is further caused to, based on the determination of the area of memory of the electronic device that can be written, write data to the area of memory.

Claims (47)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a database including a plurality of device profiles; and,

a device programmer including instructions, the instructions, when read and executed by a processor, cause the device programmer to:

identify a first device identifier of a first electronic device;

based upon the first device identifier, access first device data from the database;

based upon the first device data, determine a first area of memory of the first electronic device that can be written; and

based on the determination of the first area of memory of the first electronic device that can be written, write data to the first area of memory of the first electronic device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first device data includes a first memory map of the first device, the first memory map configured to define the first area of memory of the first electronic device as programmable.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first memory map is further configured to define a second area of memory of the first electronic device that is not programmable.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first memory map is further configured to define the second area of memory of the first electronic device as unseen from usage of the first electronic device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device programmer is further configured to, upon writing data to the first area of memory of the first electronic device, replace the first device identifier with a second device identifier on the first electronic device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the second device identifier is configured to define a third area of memory that can be written.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second device identifier is configured to prevent one or more other apparatuses from writing data to the first area of memory of the first electronic device.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the second device identifier is associated with a second memory map of the first electronic device, the second memory map configured to define the third area of memory of the first electronic device as programmable.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the second device identifier is configured to define that the first area of memory is unprogrammable.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the device programmer is further configured to:

identify a third device identifier of a second electronic device; and

based upon the third device identifier, determine that a different device programmer is configured to write data to the second electronic device instead of the device programmer.

11. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:

the first device identifier is configured to allow access through a first memory map to debug features of the first electronic device; and

the second device identifier is configured to deny access through a second memory map to debug features of the first electronic device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first device identifier is configured to be replaced by a second device identifier.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the second device identifier is configured to define a third area of memory that can be written.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the second device identifier is further configured to prevent writes of data to the first area of the memory.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the second device identifier is further configured to define that the first area of memory is unprogrammable.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein:

the first device identifier is configured to allow access through a first memory map to debug features of the apparatus; and

the second device identifier is configured to deny access through a second memory map to debug features of the apparatus.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory; and

a first device identifier configured to:

denote a phase of production for the apparatus; and

allow access to a first area of the memory that can be written.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first device identifier is configured to prevent programming of a second area of the memory.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the second area of the memory is not mapped for use of the apparatus.

20. A method, comprising:

accessing a first electronic device;

identifying a first device identifier of the first electronic device;

based upon the first device identifier, accessing first device data from a database including a plurality of device profiles;

based upon the first device data, determining a first area of memory of the first electronic device that can be written; and

based on the determination of the first area of memory of the first electronic device that can be written, writing data to the first area of memory of the first electronic device.

21. A method, comprising:

providing access to a first electronic device for a device programmer;

providing a first device identifier to the device programmer from a memory; and

based on the first device identifier:

denoting a phase of production for the first electronic device; and

allowing access to a first area of the memory that can be written.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060894/0437 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059363/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059863/0400 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059358/0335 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059263/0001 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058214/0625 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057935/0474 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055671/0612 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 052856/0909 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053468/0705 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053466/0011 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 053311/0305 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2020
From: SIMMONS, MICHAEL
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 051979/0201 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62867552 · Jun 27, 2019
Related Publication 20200409869A1 · Dec 31, 2020