Technology for Trusted Circuits

Our proposal specifically addresses the problem identified in Phase I, that there is a critical need for non-destructive trust assurance that a manufactured IC faithfully implements its intended specification and only its intended specification. EDAptive Computing, Inc. has proposed an integrated, multi-teired solution to this problem that builds upon a solid foundation of research, yet extends this research in unique and innovative ways. The proposed ECI Circuit Fingerprinting™ solution builds upon work done in watermarking, system identification, and mutation-based test vector generation to create a solution that empowers users with non-destructive methods of trust assurance. For maximum effectiveness, our solution focuses on the verification of trust between a design and its implementation. However, it is extendable to meet additional needs of trust assurance, particularly in areas of acquisition and deployment, not only for DARPA, but other branches of the government and military. Our proposal outlines specific objectives, the tasks that will be performed to meet those objectives, and a clear plan for future applications during Phase III or technology transition.