International Business Machines Corporation
On-chipset certification to prevent spy chip

Abstract:

An apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a set of chips designed to form an integrated chipset. Each of the chips has a Physically Unclonable Function (PUF) uniquely identifying each of the chips as part of the integrated chipset. The apparatus further includes a certification circuit, in signal communication with the chips, for certifying each of the chips as belonging to the integrated chipset and detecting any spy chips unbelonging to the integrated chipset, based on challenge-response results obtained using the PUF with respect to an expected chip count.