Memory control unit implementing a rotating-key encryption algorithm

• Main Authors: SHEDIVY DAVID A, POSEY WILLIAM P, FLYNN WILLIAM T, MARSON MARK E
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 22.03.2007
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; PHYSICS

A method, a computer program product and a memory control unit operate to store encrypted data in a memory. In response to receiving a memory write command having write data and a memory address, a determination is made if a corresponding region of the memory is specified to store encrypted data. If the corresponding region of the memory is specified to store encrypted data, the method and computer program product retrieve an encryption key predefined for use with the received memory address and retrieve a write counter associated with the write data, increment a value of the write counter, construct data so as to include at least a portion of the memory address, a current value of the write counter and a fill pattern, and apply the constructed data to a first input of an encryption algorithm and apply the retrieved encryption key to a second input of the encryption algorithm. The method and computer program product further apply, such as by Exclusive-ORing, an output of the encryption algorithm to the write data to produce a result and send the result to the memory.