A Vector Approach to Cryptography Implementation

Abstract

Abstract. The current deployment of Digital Right Management (DRM) schemes to distribute protected contents and rights is leading the way to massive use of sophisticated embedded cryptographic applications. Embedded microprocessors have been equipped with bulky and powerconsuming co-processors designed to suit particular data sizes. However, flexible cryptographic platforms are more desirable than devices dedicated to a particular cryptographic algorithm as the increasing cost of fabrication chips favors large volume production. This paper proposes a novel approach to embedded cryptography whereby we propose a vectorbased general purpose machine capable of implementing a range of cryptographic algorithms. We show that vector processing ideas can be used to perform cryptography in an efficient manner which we believe is appropriate for high performance, flexible and power efficient embedded systems.

Implementing Cryptography on TFT Technology for Secure Display Applications

“…2. We have used the acronym VeMICry, for Vectorial MIPS for Cryptography [20]. In essence, VeMICry comprises a simple MIPS-I processor [21] implementing usual, "scalar" instructions, together with a vector coprocessor for the vector instructions.…”

“…As the name suggests, vector instructions operate on vectors of registers rather than on individual registers. A total of 17 vector instructions have been defined for VeMICry; a full list is provided in [20]. A few examplesrelevant to public key cryptography -are:…”

“…In order to explore the trade-offs between these characteristics, we have built a functional model of the VeMICry using the ArchC simulation tool [24]. Details and simulation results can be found in [20], showing significant performance improvements when the Montgomery algorithm runs on the vector processor model, compared to equivalent realisations on a purely scalar, conventional MIPS.…”

“…Note that the VeMICry functional model is not restricted to modular multiplication, ECCs or public key cryptography; the AES algorithm [25] has also been simulated on it and again improvements were demonstrated in [20]. While in this particular project it is employed for ECC decryption, it should be regarded as a scalable, high performance processor architecture employable in a variety of cryptographic applications.…”

Symmetric Key Cryptography on Modern Graphics Hardware

“…Vector processors have been considered for implementation of symmetric algorithms such as DES [4], and cryptography in general [5], which yielded some performance increase. Recently, Costigan and Scott [6] implemented RSA using the vector units of the Cell processor.…”