Unit verification method and device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11889003-B2
Application number	US-202017641757-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2020
Priority date	Sep 10, 2019
Publication date	Jan 30, 2024
Grant date	Jan 30, 2024

Abstract

A unit verification method to be performed on a unit under test (UUT) comprises connecting a verification device to the UUT. The verification device applies a set of challenge signals to the UUT and then measures the responses of the UUT to the challenge signals. The responses of the UUT are based on the challenge signals and the physical properties of the UUT. A registration key is generated based on the measured responses and is stored. The registration key is unique to the UUT.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A unit registration method to be performed on a unit under test (UUT) by a verification device, the unit registration method comprising:
connecting the verification device to the UUT;
applying a set of challenge signals to a plurality of conductors of the UUT by the verification device,
wherein the set of challenge signals are applied by the verification device to a varying selection of the plurality of conductors of the UUT, and
wherein the varying selection of the plurality of conductors varies between each challenge signal within the set of challenge signals;

receiving response signals from the UUT in response to the set of challenge signals;
measuring electro-magnetic responses of the response signals,
wherein the electro-magnetic responses are based on challenge signals within the set of challenge signals and physical properties of the UUT;

generating a registration key based on the electro-magnetic responses measured by the verification device, wherein the registration key is unique to the UUT; and
storing the registration key.

2. The unit registration method of claim 1 , wherein measuring the electro-magnetic responses of the UUT comprises measuring electrical or optical responses of the UUT by the verification device.

3. The unit registration method of claim 2 , wherein the verification device is optically connected to the UUT, and wherein the challenge signals applied by the verification device comprise optical signals.

4. The unit registration method of claim 3 , wherein the UUT comprises a plurality of optical waveguides such that the set of challenge signals are applied by the verification device to a varying selection of the plurality of optical waveguides of the UUT, and wherein the varying selection of the plurality of optical waveguides varies between each challenge signal within the set of challenge signals.

5. The unit registration method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of a waveform, a frequency, an amplitude, and a phase of a challenge signal varies between the challenge signals within the set of challenge signals.

6. The unit registration method of claim 1 , wherein the registration key is generated using a fuzzy extractor.

7. A unit authentication method to be performed on a unit under test (UUT) by a verification device, the unit authentication method comprising:
connecting the verification device to the UUT;
applying a set of authentication challenge signals to a plurality of conductors of the UUT by the verification device,
wherein the set of challenge signals are applied by the verification device to a varying selection of the plurality of conductors of the UUT, and
wherein the varying selection of the plurality of conductors varies between each challenge signal within the set of challenge signals;

receiving response signals from the UUT in response to the set of authentication challenge signals;
measuring the response signals, wherein the response signals are based on challenge signals within the set of authentication challenge signals and physical properties of the UUT;
generating an authentication key based on the response signals measured by the verification device; and
comparing the authentication key to a registration key of the UUT, wherein the verification device recovers the registration key from a storage location.

8. The unit authentication method of claim 7 , wherein after comparing the authentication key to the registration key, the unit authentication method further comprises:
determining, by the verification device, that the UUT is considered untampered and authentic when the authentication key matches the registration key; or
determining, by the verification device, that the UUT is considered tampered and not authentic when the authentication key does not match the registration key.

9. The unit authentication method of claim 7 , wherein the set of authentication challenge signals are identical to a set of registration challenge signals corresponding to the registration key of the UUT.

10. The unit authentication method of claim 7 , wherein the verification device is electrically connected to the UUT, and wherein the set of authentication challenge signals are electrical signals.

11. The unit authentication method of claim 10 , wherein the UUT comprises a plurality of conductors such that a plurality of authentication challenge signals within the set of authentication challenge signals are applied by the verification device to a varying selection of the plurality of conductors of the UUT, and wherein the varying selection of the plurality of conductors varies between each of the plurality of authentication challenge signals within the set of authentication challenge signals.

12. The unit authentication method of claim 7 , wherein the verification device is optically connected to the UUT, and wherein the set of authentication challenge signals are optical signals.

13. The unit authentication method of claim 12 , wherein the UUT comprises a plurality of optical waveguides such that a plurality of authentication challenge signals within the set of authentication challenge signals are applied to a varying selection of the plurality of optical waveguides of the UUT, and wherein the varying selection of optical waveguides varies between authentication challenge signals within the set of authentication challenge signals.

14. The unit authentication method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of a waveform, a frequency, an amplitude and a phase of an authentication challenge signal varies between authentication challenge signals of the set of authentication challenge signals.

15. The unit authentication method of claim 7 , wherein the authentication key is generated using a fuzzy extractor.

16. A unit verification and authentication method performed on a unit under test (UUT) by a verification device, the unit verification and authentication method comprising:
a unit registration method comprising:
connecting the verification device to the UUT;

applying a set of registration challenge signals to a plurality of conductors of the UUT by the verification device,
wherein the set of challenge signals are applied by the verification device to a varying selection of the plurality of conductors of the UUT, and
wherein the varying selection of the plurality of conductors varies between each challenge signal within the set of challenge signals;
receiving response signals from the UUT in response to the set of registration challenge signals;
measuring the response signals, wherein the response signals are based on challenge signals within the set of registration challenge signals and physical properties of the UUT;
generating a registration key based on the response signals measured by the verification device, wherein the registration key is unique to the UUT; and
storing the registration key; and

a unit authentication method comprising:
connecting the verification device to the UUT;

applying a set of authentication challenge signals to the plurality of conductors of the UUT by the verification device,
wherein the set of challenge signals are applied by the verification device to the varying selection of the plurality of conductors of the UUT, and
wherein the varying selection of the plurality of conductors varies between each challenge signal within the set of challenge signals;
receiving response signals from the UUT in response to the set of authentication challenge signals;
measuring the response signals received by the verification device, wherein the response signals are based on the set of authen

Assignees

• Ttp Plc

Inventors

• Palmer Timothy John
• Beck Michael

Classifications

• H04L9/3278 Primary

  using physically unclonable functions [PUF] · CPC title

• H04L9/0861

  Generation of secret information including derivation or calculation of cryptographic keys or passwords · CPC title

• H04L9/3271 Primary

  using challenge-response · CPC title