Abstract: A method for controlling device activation and an associated electronic device are provided. The method includes: utilizing a static entropy source of the electronic device to provide a static entropy; utilizing a first message authentication code (MAC) operator of the electronic device to execute a predetermined algorithm for generating a reference code according to the static entropy and an embedded key of the electronic device; receiving an activation code from outside of the electronic device; utilizing a comparing circuit to compare the activation code with the reference code for generating a comparison result; and determining whether to activate at least one functional circuit of the electronic device according to the comparison result.

Abstract: A method of operating the physically unclonable function (PUF)-based key management system includes upon receiving a key generation request including a parameter, a load balancer dispatching a key generation request including a parameter from an external device according to workloads of a plurality of key management components (KMCs). A KMC having minimum workload among the plurality of KMCs is designated as the key-generation KMC and the key generation request is dispatched thereto, and remaining KMCs of the plurality of KMCs are designated as backup KMCs. The method further includes the key-generation KMC generating a key according to the parameter and a first PUF sequence, transmitting the key and an identifier associated therewith to the backup KMC via a backup channel, and the backup KMC generating a wrapped key according to the key and a second PUF sequence.

Abstract: A built-in self-test (BIST) circuit and a BIST method for Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) quality check are provided. The BIST circuit may include a PUF array, a readout circuit coupled to the PUF array, and a first comparing circuit coupled to the readout circuit. The PUF array may include a plurality of PUF units, wherein each of the PUF units includes a first cell and a second cell. The readout circuit may be configured to output an output bit from the first cell and output a parity bit from the second cell. The first comparing circuit may be configured to compare an output string with a parity string to generate a parity check result, wherein the output string includes output bits respectively read from selected PUF units of the PUF units, and the parity string includes parity bits read from the selected PUF units.

Abstract: A modular operation device for handling a modular multiplication, comprises a controller, configured to divide a multiplicand into a plurality of multiplicand words, a multiplier into a plurality of multiplier words, and a modulus into a plurality of modulus words; a first plurality of processing elements, coupled to the controller, configured to compute a first plurality of updated carry results and a first plurality of updated sum results; a second plurality of processing elements, coupled to the controller, configured to compute a second plurality of updated carry results and a second plurality of updated sum results; and a reduction element, coupled to the controller, configured to compute a resulting remainder according to the second plurality of updated carry results and the second plurality of updated sum results.

Abstract: An electronic system includes a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit includes a first activation unit and a first functional unit. The first activation unit receives a first challenge string, generates a first response string according to the first challenge string and a first key, and outputs the first response string. The first functional unit performs first designated function. The second circuit includes a second activation unit and a second functional unit. The second activation unit sends the first challenge string to the first circuit during a first activation operation, and determines whether the first activation operation passes certification or not according to the first challenge string, the first response string and the first key. The second functional unit performs second designated function when the first activation operation is determined to have passed the certification.