Intellectual property protection (IPP) using obfuscation in C, VHDL, and Verilog coding

Uwe Meyer-Bäse; Encarni Castillo; Guillermo Botella; L. Parrilla; Antonio García

doi:10.1117/12.884142

3 June 2011 Intellectual property protection (IPP) using obfuscation in C, VHDL, and Verilog coding

Uwe Meyer-Bäse, Encarni Castillo, Guillermo Botella, L. Parrilla, Antonio García

Proceedings Volume 8058, Independent Component Analyses, Wavelets, Neural Networks, Biosystems, and Nanoengineering IX; 80581F (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.884142
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2011, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

One of the big challenges in the design of embedded systems today is how to combine design reuse and intellectual property protection (IPP). Strong IP schemes such as hardware dongle or layout watermarking usually have a very limited design reuse for different FPGA/ASIC design platforms. Some techniques also do not fit well with protection of software in embedded microprocessors. Another approach to IPP that allows an easy design reuse and has low costs but a somehow reduced security is code "obfuscation." Obfuscation is a method to hide the design concept, or program algorithm included in the C or HDL source by using one or more transformations of the original code. Obfuscation methods include, for instance, renaming identifiers, removing comments or formatting of the code. More sophisticated obfuscation methods include data splitting or merging, and control flow changes. This paper shows strength and weakness of method obfuscating C, VHDL and Verilog code.

Citation Download Citation

Uwe Meyer-Bäse, Encarni Castillo, Guillermo Botella, L. Parrilla, and Antonio García "Intellectual property protection (IPP) using obfuscation in C, VHDL, and Verilog coding", Proc. SPIE 8058, Independent Component Analyses, Wavelets, Neural Networks, Biosystems, and Nanoengineering IX, 80581F (3 June 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.884142

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available