US 11,687,468 B2
Method and apparatus for securing memory modules
Brian J. Connolly, Williston, VT (US); and Kyu-hyoun Kim, Chappaqua, NY (US)
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US)
Filed by International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US)
Filed on Jul. 2, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/919,685.
Prior Publication US 2022/0004506 A1, Jan. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. G06F 12/14 (2006.01); G06F 1/3225 (2019.01); H04L 9/08 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 12/1408 (2013.01) [H04L 9/0822 (2013.01); G06F 2212/1052 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for managing data in a memory subsystem, the method comprising:
providing a memory module having one or more memory devices for storing data and a voltage regulator for controlling voltage levels supplied to the one or more memory devices, wherein the voltage regulator has a first state that permits write and read operations with the one or more memory devices, and a second state where the voltage regulator prevents at least read operations with the one or more memory devices;
storing in read only memory on the voltage regulator an encryption key value;
copying the encryption key value from the read only memory on the voltage regulator to a voltage regulator register;
setting a voltage regulator encryption timer for a period of time; and
transitioning the voltage regulator to the second state in response to the period of time of the voltage regulator encryption timer expiring.