A protocol for secure remote update of run-time partially reconfigurable systems based on FPGA

Abstract

Remote updating for hardware system via the Internet is an advantage of FPGA-based devices. Whereby the system designer or user can change or renew a part of his equipment. However, the problem of communication in an untrusted environment can lead to significant damage: The risks (cloning, reverse engineering) for the Intellectual Property (IP) of designers; damaging devices (from malicious) or losing the properties of the user (by trojan horse). In this paper, we proposed a safe and flexible protocol for secure remote update of run-time partial reconfigurable systems. Our proposed protocol can prevent cloning, reverse engineering, downgrade of the system and can protect key and license of IP cores. We have also proposed a new method to verify keys by using a SHA hash function.