Protection of fault-secured IP cores using digital signature-based watermarks

Abstract

This chapter discusses forensic detective control using digital signature-based watermarks for fault-secured digital signal processing (DSP) cores or integrated circuits. The chapter provides detailed insight on the utility of the digital signature process for fault-secured DSP cores, which is an extension of Chapter 3. This chapter includes a discussion on transient fault security, generating loop unrolled control data flow graphs representing DSP cores, fault-secured IP core protection using forensic detective control of a digital signature, the methodology of implanting digital signature - watermarking constraints covertly into an IP core design, and the respective design process. The chapter is organized as follows: Section 4.1 introduces the background to IP cores and their countermeasures as well as the background on fault-secured IP cores; Section 4.2 discusses the threat model for which a digital-signature approach is applicable; Section 4.3 provides a discussion on contemporary IP core-protection approaches for DSP cores; Section 4.4 explains forensic detective control using a digital signature-based watermark; Section 4.5 presents a case study of the digital signature process for securing fault-secured FIR filters; Section 4.6 presents an analysis and comparison of digital signature-based watermarks for various fault-secured DSP cores; Section 4.7 concludes the chapter.