IP Library Granted Patent US 8,214,630
Granted Patent B2
US 8,214,630 · App. 12/391,488 · Granted Jul 3, 2012

Method and apparatus for controlling enablement of JTAG interface

Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,214,630
App. No.
12/391,488
Filed
Feb 24, 2009
Granted
Jul 3, 2012
Kind
B2
Art Unit
4132
USPC
713/1
Abstract

A method, device and system for controlling JTAG interface enablement within a communication device. The JTAG interface can be selectively enabled based on the receipt of an encrypted access token generated by an access token server. The access token server generates the access token in response to an end user providing appropriate device-specific information. The access token includes appropriate information that, upon appropriate authentication and decryption, can temporarily device bind the boot code image of the device in a manner that enables the JTAG interface. Alternatively, the access token includes appropriate information that instructs the general purpose processor to choose between JTAG interface enablement information and JTAG interface disablement information for use with the boot code image of the device. The access token can include expiration information that causes an enabled JTAG interface to revert back to its disabled status upon expiration of the access token.

Claims (52)

1. A communication device, comprising:

at least one processor to receive an access token having a first boot code image portion encrypted with JTAG enablement information by an encryption key unique to the communication device;

a memory element coupled to the at least one processor for storing at least a portion of the first boot code image portion received by the at least one processor;

a JTAG interface coupled to the at least one processor and enabled to allow access to the at least one processor and disabled to prevent access to the at least one processor; and

an enablement module coupled to the at least one processor to enable and disable the JTAG interface based on the JTAG enablement information,

wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the enablement module authenticates the access token received by the communication device,

wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the enablement module combines the first boot code image portion with a second boot code image portion stored in the communication device to form an encrypted boot code image including the JTAG enablement information, and

wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the enablement module decrypts the encrypted boot code image to obtain the JTAG enablement information.

2. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second boot code image portion does not include any JTAG enablement information.

3. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first boot code image portion and the JTAG enablement information are encrypted by a global encryption key (GEK) prior to being encrypted by the encryption key unique to the communication device.

4. The device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the encryption key unique to the communication device is one of a public key and a symmetric key.

5. The device as recited in claim 3 , wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the enablement module decrypts at least a portion of the access token to obtain the JTAG enablement information first using a unique device decryption key and then using the global encryption key (GEK).

6. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the access token is generated by an access token server in response to the access token server receiving device-specific information specific to the communication device.

7. The device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the communication device has at least one chip serial number, and wherein the device-specific information includes the chip serial number.

8. The device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the communication device provides an unencrypted version of the boot code image to the access token server in response to an access token request made to the communication device.

9. The device as recited in claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the access token is encrypted using the encryption key provided to the access token server as part of the device-specific information.

10. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the access token includes multiple portions of boot code images, wherein at least one of the multiple portions of boot code images are encrypted with an encryption key unique to a particular communication device, and wherein the communication device decrypts the boot code image portion that was encrypted with the encryption key unique to the communication device.

11. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first boot code image portion is encrypted with JTAG enablement information by a Unit Specific Key (USK) unique to the communication device, and wherein at least one of the at least one processor and the enablement module decrypts the second boot code image portion, re-encrypts the second boot code image portion with the USK, and combines the first boot code image portion with the encrypted second boot code image portion to form an encrypted boot code image including the JTAG enablement information.

12. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the JTAG enablement information includes at least one JTAG interface control block having a JTAG enablement flag to store a first value that enables the JTAG interface to allow access to the processor and a second value that disables the JTAG interface to prevent access to the processor.

13. A communication device, comprising:

at least one general purpose processor to receive an access token having a first boot code image portion with JTAG enablement information, a unique device identifier attached to the first boot code portion, and a digital signature;

a memory element coupled to the general purpose processor for storing at least a portion of the first boot code image portion received by the general purpose processor;

a JTAG interface coupled to the general purpose processor and enabled to allow access to the general purpose processor and disabled to prevent access to the general purpose processor;

a security processor coupled to the general purpose processor and coupled to the JTAG interface; and

an enablement module coupled to the general purpose processor to enable and disable the JTAG interface based on the JTAG enablement information,

wherein at least one of the general purpose processor, the security processor and the enablement module authenticates the access token received by the communication device,

wherein the general purpose processor passes the first boot code image portion to the security processor only if the unique device identifier attached to the first boot code image portion matches a corresponding unique device identifier stored within the communication device,

wherein the security processor is configured to combine the first boot code image portion with a second boot code image portion stored in the communication device to form an encrypted boot code image including the JTAG enablement information, and

wherein at least one of the general purpose processor, the security processor and the enablement module is configured to decrypt the encrypted boot code image to obtain the JTAG enablement information.

14. The device as recited in claim 13 , wherein the access token includes a plurality of unique device identifiers, and wherein the general purpose processor passes the first boot code image portion to the security processor only if one of the plurality of unique device identifiers matches a corresponding unique device identifier stored within the communication device.

15. A communication device, comprising:

at least one general purpose processor to receive an access token having a unique device identifier and a digital signature, wherein the general purpose processor includes a boot code image portion having JTAG enablement (JTAG=ON) information and a boot code image portion having JTAG disablement (JTAG=OFF) information;

a memory element coupled to the general purpose processor for storing at least a portion of the first boot code image portion received by the general purpose processor;

a JTAG interface coupled to the general purpose processor and enabled to allow access to the general purpose processor and disabled to prevent access to the general purpose processor;

a security processor coupled to the general purpose processor and coupled to the JTAG interface; and

an enablement module coupled to the general purpose processor to enable the JTAG interface based on JTAG enablement (JTAG=ON) information and disable the JTAG interface based on JTAG disablement (JTAG=OFF) information,

wherein at least one of the general purpose processor, the security processor and the enablement module authenticates the access token received by the communication device,

wherein the general purpose processor passes the boot code image portion having JTAG enablement (JTAG=ON) information to the security processor if the unique device identifier received by the communication device matches a corresponding unique device identifier stored within the communication device,

wherein the general purpose processor passes the boot code image portion having JTAG disablement (JTAG=OFF) information if the unique device identifier received by the communication device does not match a corresponding unique device identifier stored within the communication device,

wherein the security processor combines either the boot code image portion having JTAG enablement (JTAG=ON) information or the boot code image portion having JTAG disablement (JTAG=OFF) information with an existing boot code image portion stored in the communication device to form a combined boot code image including either JTAG enablement (JTAG=ON) information or JTAG disablement (JTAG=OFF) information, and

wherein at least one of the security processor and the enablement executes the combined boot code image to either enable or disable the JTAG interface.

16. The device as recited in claim 15 , wherein the access token includes a plurality of unique device identifiers, and wherein the general purpose processor passes the first boot code image portion to the security processor only if one of the plurality of unique device identifiers matches a corresponding unique device identifier stored within the communication device.

17. A method for controlling the enablement of a JTAG interface of a communication device, the method comprising:

receiving an access token having a first boot code image portion encrypted with JTAG enablement information by an encryption key unique to the communication device, wherein the communication device enables and disables the JTAG interface based on the JTAG enablement information;

authenticating the access token received by the communication device based on the device-specific information;

combining the first boot code image portion with a second boot code image portion stored in the communication device to form an encrypted boot code image including the JTAG enablement information; and

decrypting the encrypted boot code image to obtain the JTAG enablement information.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out a method for controlling the enablement of a JTAG interface of a communication device, the computer readable medium comprising:

instructions for receiving an access token having a first boot code image portion encrypted with JTAG enablement information by an encryption key unique to the communication device, wherein the communication device enables and disables the JTAG interface based on the JTAG enablement information;

instructions for authenticating the access token received by the communication device based on the device-specific information;

instructions for combining the first boot code image portion with a second boot code image portion stored in the communication device to form an encrypted boot code image including the JTAG enablement information; and

instructions for decrypting the encrypted boot code image to obtain the JTAG enablement information.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 049905/0504 Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC (F/K/A ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.); ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; RUCKUS WIRELESS, LLC (F/K/A RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 071477/0255 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.
Reel/Frame 060791/0583 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST
Reel/Frame 060752/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049820/0495 →
TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049905/0504 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049892/0396 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 2, 2019
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
Reel/Frame 049649/0062 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 8, 2019
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ARRIS GROUP, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS KOREA, INC.; ARRIS HOLDINGS CORP. OF ILLINOIS, INC.; BIG BAND NETWORKS, INC.; TEXSCAN CORPORATION; POWER GUARD, INC.; 4HOME, INC.; ACADIA AIC, INC.; AEROCAST, INC.; BROADBUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION; GENERAL INSTRUMENT AUTHORIZATION SERVICES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; IMEDIA CORPORATION; JERROLD DC RADIO, INC.; LEAPSTONE SYSTEMS, INC.; MODULUS VIDEO, INC.; MOTOROLA WIRELINE NETWORKS, INC.; NETOPIA, INC.; NEXTLEVEL SYSTEMS (PUERTO RICO), INC.; QUANTUM BRIDGE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; SETJAM, INC.; SUNUP DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.; UCENTRIC SYSTEMS, INC.; GIC INTERNATIONAL HOLDCO LLC; GIC INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL LLC; CCE SOFTWARE LLC; THE GI REALTY TRUST 1996
Reel/Frame 048825/0294 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2015
From: ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.
Reel/Frame 037328/0341 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 10, 2015
From: GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION; GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION
To: ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 035176/0620 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 28, 2013
From: ARRIS GROUP, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS KOREA, INC.; ARRIS HOLDINGS CORP. OF ILLINOIS; BIGBAND NETWORKS, INC.; TEXSCAN CORPORATION; POWER GUARD, INC.; 4HOME, INC.; ACADIA AIC, INC.; AEROCAST, INC.; BROADBUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION; GENERAL INSTRUMENT AUTHORIZATION SERVICES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; IMEDIA CORPORATION; JERROLD DC RADIO, INC.; LEAPSTONE SYSTEMS, INC.; MODULUS VIDEO, INC.; MOTOROLA WIRELINE NETWORKS, INC.; NETOPIA, INC.; NEXTLEVEL SYSTEMS (PUERTO RICO), INC.; QUANTUM BRIDGE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; SETJAM, INC.; SUNUP DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.; UCENTRIC SYSTEMS, INC.; GIC INTERNATIONAL HOLDCO LLC; GIC INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL LLC; CCE SOFTWARE LLC; THE GI REALTY TRUST 1996
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 030498/0023 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2009
From: PETERKA, PETR; MEDVINSKY, ALEXANDER
To: GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022302/0180 →
Continuity (1)
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