Digital Signature Embedding Technique for IP Core Protection

The intellectual property protection of reusable design modules are becoming a problem with the expansion of this design strategy. This paper propose a new protection method for IP cores to be implemented over FPGAs. The aim is to protect the author rights of reusable IP cores by means of a digital signature that uniquely identifies both the original design and the design recipient. The technique relies on a procedure that spreads a digital signature in cells of look-up tables of designs at HDL design level, not increasing the area of the system. The technique includes a procedure for signature extraction that allows to detect the ownership right without interfering the normal operation of the system and requiring minimal modifications to the system. The IPP technique has been implemented on programmable devices, with negligible performance penalties.