JP2011150758A - Semiconductor device, system and method for managing mac address - Google Patents

Abstract

A MAC address is generated and managed by a chip ID.
A MAC address (Media Access Control address) vendor code, a flash memory holding a MAC address conversion routine, and a microcomputer chip ID are read, and the MAC address is serialized based on the chip ID according to the MAC address conversion routine. This is solved by a semiconductor device including a CPU that generates a number and combines a vendor code and a serial number to generate a MAC address.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a semiconductor device that incorporates a nonvolatile memory and is mounted on a network device.

  For network devices, unique data such as a MAC address (Media Access Control address) needs to be assigned.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 1, unique data such as a MAC address is stored in a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), and the nonvolatile memory is mounted on a network device. A method of giving a unique MAC address to each network device is common.

  On the other hand, in network devices, it is common to perform system control using a microcomputer or the like. A conventional microcomputer incorporates a masked ROM (masked Read Only Memory) and stores the microcomputer program in the masked ROM.

  In recent years, microcomputers with built-in non-volatile memory such as flash memory have become widespread, and microcomputer providers such as microcomputer manufacturers use a program to operate a microcomputer using a MAC address previously stored in an external EEPROM of the microcomputer. In addition, there is a need (request) to reduce the cost (expense) required for the external EEPROM by storing it in the built-in flash memory.

  Moreover, in order to reduce mass production costs, microcomputer users such as network equipment manufacturers need to mass-produce network products automatically on a mass production line. Since the MAC address described above is a unique value for each device, it is necessary to manage and change the value of the MAC address for each device, compared to simple copying (copying) or mass writing of single data. There is. Therefore, it is necessary to devise the writing device and writing method.

  As a related technique, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-199827 (Patent Document 1) discloses a data writing device. In this related technique, the data writing device writes common data and individual data to be written to the read-only memory to the chip in one process. The data writing unit of the data writing device includes a writing unit that writes data to the chip, a common data memory unit that stores common data such as firmware, an individual data memory unit that stores individual data such as a MAC address, A user interface unit for designating a writing area for common data and individual data, and a control unit for passing the common data or individual data together with a chip designation and a writing address to the writing unit based on determination of an area for writing the common data or individual data. Prepare.

  In this related technology, it is necessary for the user to appropriately set the writing device in advance for each set before performing mass production writing. In addition, when using a MAC address, it is necessary for a microcomputer user such as a network device manufacturer to manage the use / unuse of the MAC address.

JP 2004-199827 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device that efficiently manages and writes data common to all devices and data unique to each device such as a MAC address to a microcomputer with a built-in nonvolatile memory mounted on a network device. Is to provide.

  The semiconductor device of the present invention reads the MAC address (Media Access Control address) vendor code, the flash memory holding the MAC address conversion routine, and the chip ID of the microcomputer, and in accordance with the MAC address conversion routine, the MAC is based on the chip ID. A CPU that generates a serial number of the address and generates a MAC address by combining the vendor code and the serial number;

  The MAC address management system of the present invention reads a chip ID assigned to a microcomputer, generates a serial number of the MAC address based on the chip ID, and combines the MAC address vendor code and the serial number in combination with the MAC. A MAC address management device that generates an address and manages the generated MAC address.

  In the MAC address management method of the present invention, the chip ID of the microcomputer is read. Next, a serial number of the MAC address is generated based on the chip ID. Next, the MAC address is generated by combining the vendor code of the MAC address and the serial number. Next, the generated MAC address is managed.

  There is no need to install an EEPROM for recording the MAC address in the microcomputer. Further, since the MAC address is generated based on the chip ID, the management of the MAC address becomes easy.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the conventional network apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the microcomputer with a built-in nonvolatile memory which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of chip ID of a microcomputer. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a MAC address. It is a figure which shows the example of the method of provision of chip ID information from a microcomputer provider to a microcomputer user, and a MAC address generation. It is a figure which shows the example of incorporation of a MAC address. It is a figure which shows the transition of the data until it produces | generates a MAC address from chip ID.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Here, as an example of the semiconductor device of the present invention, a microcomputer with built-in nonvolatile memory, which is a kind of microcomputer, is assumed. However, actually, the semiconductor device of the present invention is not limited to the microcomputer with built-in nonvolatile memory. For example, the semiconductor device of the present invention may be an electronic device equipped with a microcomputer with built-in nonvolatile memory.

  In the microcomputer, a unique value is usually recorded in the manufacturing process. Specifically, the unique value is a serial number called “chip ID” that is individually written in a wafer inspection process such as P / W (Pellets by Wafer).

  If a chip ID is used to generate a MAC address (Media Access Control address) in a microcomputer that performs system control of a network device, the network device manufacturer is freed from MAC address management. In addition, a unique value can be obtained for each installation unit without writing unique data separately from the writing device to the microcomputer.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the microcomputer with built-in nonvolatile memory according to the present invention includes a flash memory 1 and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2. Moreover, the microcomputer with built-in nonvolatile memory according to the present invention generates the MAC address 4 using the chip ID 3.

  The flash memory 1 includes a microcomputer user creation program 11, a MAC address vendor code part 12, and a MAC address conversion routine 13.

  The microcomputer user creation program 11 is an arbitrary microcomputer program created by the microcomputer user.

  The MAC address vendor code section 12 is 24-bit data serving as the vendor code of the MAC address 4. The vendor code of the MAC address 4 will be described in detail later.

  The MAC address conversion routine 13 is data that defines a conversion rule for generating the MAC address 4 based on the chip ID 3.

  The CPU 2 reads the chip ID 3 recorded in the microcomputer, the MAC address vendor code portion 12 and the MAC address conversion routine 13 stored in the flash memory 1, and the MAC address vendor code portion according to the MAC address conversion routine 13. 12 and a chip ID 3 are used to generate a MAC address 4. At this time, the CPU 2 may store the generated MAC address 4 in the flash memory 1 or may output it to the outside as it is.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the chip ID3 that is unique information of the microcomputer.
Here, the chip ID 3 is a 4-bit lot production year 31, a 4-bit lot production month 32, a 12-bit lot serial number 33, a 5-bit wafer number 34, and a 12-bit wafer coordinate position (X , Y) 35. However, actually, the number of bits is not limited.

  The manufacturing date and serial number of the microcomputer are specified by the 20-bit microcomputer manufacturing lot number including the 4-bit lot manufacturing year 31, the 4-bit lot manufacturing month 32, and the 12-bit lot serial number 33. Also, the wafer number in the same lot is specified by the 5-bit wafer number 34. Further, the coordinate position in the wafer is specified by the 12-bit wafer coordinate position (X, Y) 35.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of the MAC address 4 for the network device.
Here, the 48-bit MAC address 4 includes a vendor code 41 of upper 24 bits and a serial number 42 of lower 24 bits.

  The vendor code 41 is issued by an application to a management organization called IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) and is provided to a vendor. That is, the vendor code 41 is a code unique to each network device manufacturer. Normally, the vendor code 41 is an immutable code and cannot be changed by the network device manufacturer. The vendor code 41 corresponds to the vendor code portion 12 of the MAC address in FIG.

  The serial number 42 is a number expressed in 24 bits. The serial number 42 is a variable code and can be freely changed on the network equipment manufacturer side. In other words, a network device manufacturer can use 16777,216 MAC addresses for one network number by using one serial number 42.

The outline of the MAC address management system of the present invention will be described below.
First, the first method will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, when a microcomputer provider 51 such as a microcomputer manufacturer manufactures a microcomputer and provides the microcomputer to a microcomputer user 52 such as a network equipment manufacturer, the microcomputer provider 51 selects the manufactured microcomputer chip. The microcomputer user 52 is provided with a 20-bit microcomputer manufacturing lot number 53 included in the ID.

  At this time, the microcomputer provider 51 grasps and manages all the lot numbers provided to the microcomputer user 52 and provides the information to the microcomputer user 52. The unit of provision from the microcomputer provider 51 to the microcomputer user 52 is the lot number unit, and provision to different microcomputer users with the same lot number is not performed.

  In addition, the microcomputer provider 51 permits the microcomputer user 52 to use the service by the MAC address management device 54. The MAC address management device 54 is a server device that executes a MAC address management tool. For example, the computer operates as the MAC address management device 54 by executing the MAC address management tool. The MAC address management tool is software for rearranging (converting) lot numbers provided to specific users into 7-bit (128 types) blocks.

  Here, the microcomputer provider 51 provides the MAC user management tool to the microcomputer user 52. That is, the MAC address management device 54 is a server device operated by the microcomputer user 52. Note that the MAC address management device 54 may be a server device that is provided to the microcomputer user 52 by the microcomputer provider 51. A server device operated by a third party who is neither the microcomputer provider 51 nor the microcomputer user 52 can be used as the MAC address management device 54. However, actually, it is not limited to these examples.

  The MAC address management device 54 rearranges the provided lot numbers m, n, and k provided as the microcomputer manufacturing lot number 53 from the microcomputer provider 51 to the microcomputer user 52, respectively, for each provided lot number m, n, and k. Then, a 7-bit converted block 55 is created.

  Various examples can be considered as rearrangement specifications (conversion rules) for the provided lot numbers m, n, and k. For example, the upper 7 of the lower 24 bits of the serial number of the MAC address of the microcomputer user 52 A method of automatically filling the block number expressed in bits from the smaller one or a method of making the microcomputer production lot number 53 correspond to each block number can be considered.

  Further, the MAC address management device 54 generates a 24-bit MAC address according to the intention of the microcomputer user 52 by combining the 7-bit converted block 55 and the 17-bit serial number 56 in the lot. At this time, the MAC address management device 54 uses the 5-bit wafer number and the 12-bit wafer coordinates included in the chip ID as the 17-bit serial number 56 in the lot. The 5-bit wafer number and the 12-bit wafer coordinates correspond to the 5-bit wafer number 34 and the 12-bit wafer coordinate position (X, Y) 35 included in the chip ID 3 in FIG.

  As described above, the microcomputer user 52 can obtain the lower 24 bits of the MAC address from the chip ID. Since the microcomputer user 52 naturally knows the upper 24 bits (vendor code) of the MAC address, it is also possible to obtain the MAC address by combining the upper 24 bits of the MAC address and the lower 24 bits of the MAC address. . That is, the MAC address management device 54 can generate and manage the MAC address from the chip ID by acquiring the vendor code of the MAC address from the microcomputer user 52.

On the other hand, the second method will be described.
The serial number 56 in the lot in FIG. 5 lacks a number that did not pass during the wafer inspection process such as P / W, which is a problem for the microcomputer user 52 in the effective use of the MAC address resource.

  For this, the microcomputer provider 51 manages the information, provides the missing number information of each lot number to the microcomputer user 52, and the MAC address management device 54 generates the missing MAC address, so that the unused MAC address Can be managed. The unused MAC address may be written and managed by the method shown in the related art.

  Next, the microcomputer user 52 uses a dedicated MAC address conversion routine of the microcomputer in order to use the MAC address obtained by the first method as the MAC address intended by the microcomputer user in the actual operation of the microcomputer. It is necessary to prepare as a program.

  Also in this case, if the MAC address management device 54 of FIG. 5 outputs the MAC address conversion routine 57 dedicated to the microcomputer, it is possible to prepare a dedicated MAC address conversion routine.

  The MAC address conversion routine 57 is a microcomputer program that converts the lot numbers m, n, and k provided to the microcomputer user 52 of the microcomputer manufacturing lot number 53 shown in FIG. 5 into the MAC address intended by the microcomputer user 52. is there. The MAC address conversion routine 57 is finally incorporated into a microcomputer program created by the microcomputer user 52 by a linker. The MAC address management device 54 in FIG. 5 may have this linker.

FIG. 6 shows an example of incorporating a MAC address conversion routine.
Here, the microcomputer user 52 incorporates the microcomputer user creation program 61 and the MAC address conversion routine 62 into the microcomputer program 64 by the program linker 63 which is the above-mentioned linker, and the microcomputer program 64 is installed in the network device. Write to the flash memory of the microcomputer. The microcomputer user creation program 61 corresponds to the microcomputer user creation program 11 of FIG. The MAC address conversion routine 62 corresponds to the MAC address conversion routine 13 of FIG. 2 and the MAC address conversion routine 57 of FIG. The flash memory of the microcomputer corresponds to the flash memory 1 in FIG. That is, it can be said that the microcomputer program 64 is a combination of the microcomputer user creation program 11 and the MAC address conversion routine 13 of FIG.

  The microcomputer user 52 can obtain a unique MAC address from the microcomputer by writing the microcomputer program 64 in the flash memory of all the microcomputers mounted on the network device in the same manner.

FIG. 7 shows data transition from the chip ID to the generation of the MAC address.
The MAC address management device 54 in FIG. 5 rearranges the lot production year 31, the lot production month 32, and the lot serial number 33 in FIG. 3 to create the converted block 55 in FIG. The MAC address management device 54 in FIG. 5 outputs the relocation specification as a MAC address conversion routine 57. The flash memory 1 in FIG. 2 stores the MAC address conversion routine 57 in FIG. 5 as the MAC address conversion routine 13 in FIG. The CPU 2 in FIG. 2 rearranges the lot production year 31, the lot production month 32, and the lot serial number 33 in FIG. 3 based on the MAC address conversion routine 13, and creates the converted block 55 in FIG. That is, the CPU 2 in FIG. 2 also performs rearrangement based on the MAC address conversion routine 13 with the same specifications as the MAC address management device 54 in FIG.

  The MAC address management device 54 in FIG. 5 and the CPU 2 in FIG. 2 combine the wafer number 34 in FIG. 3 and the wafer coordinate position (X, Y) 35 to create the in-lot serial number 56 in FIG.

  If the total number of bits of the combination of wafer number 34 and wafer coordinate position (X, Y) 35 in FIG. 3 exceeds the number of bits in serial number 56 (24 bits) in FIG. 5, the MAC address in FIG. The management device 54 may rearrange the wafer number 34 and the wafer coordinate position (X, Y) 35 in FIG. 3 to create the in-lot serial number 56 in FIG. In this case, the MAC address management device 54 in FIG. 5 also outputs the relocation specification as the MAC address conversion routine 57. The flash memory 1 in FIG. 2 stores the MAC address conversion routine 57 in FIG. 5 as the MAC address conversion routine 13 in FIG. The CPU 2 in FIG. 2 rearranges the wafer number 34 and the wafer coordinate position (X, Y) 35 in FIG. 3 based on the MAC address conversion routine 13, and creates the in-lot serial number 56 in FIG.

  The MAC address management device 54 in FIG. 5 and the CPU 2 in FIG. 2 create the serial number 42 in FIG. 4 by combining the converted block 55 in FIG. 5 and the serial number 56 in the lot.

  The MAC address management device 54 of FIG. 5 generates the MAC address 4 by combining the vendor code 41 and the serial number 42 of FIG. The flash memory 1 in FIG. 2 stores the vendor code 41 in FIG. 4 as the vendor code portion 12 of the MAC address in FIG. 2 generates the MAC address 4 in FIG. 4 by combining the vendor code part 12 of the MAC address in FIG. 2 and the serial number 42 in FIG.

  As described above, in the present invention, a manufacturer that mass-produces network devices has a microcomputer with a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory installed in the network device, and the network device has unique information based on the chip ID of the microcomputer. The MAC address given as is generated and managed.

  In the present invention, it is also possible to write a MAC address given as unique information to a network device, together with a program for operating the microcomputer, in a nonvolatile memory.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail, actually, it is not restricted to said embodiment, Even if there is a change of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it is included in this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Flash memory 11 ... Microcomputer user creation program 12 ... Vendor code part of MAC address 13 ... MAC address conversion routine 2 ... CPU
3 ... Chip ID
31 ... Lot production year 32 ... Lot production month 33 ... Lot serial number 34 ... Wafer number 35 ... Wafer coordinate position (X, Y)
4 ... MAC address 41 ... Vendor code (of MAC address) 42 ... Serial number (of MAC address) 51 ... Microcomputer provider 52 ... Microcomputer user 53 ... Microcomputer manufacturing lot number 54 ... MAC address management device 55 ... Block after conversion 56 ... Serial number in lot 57 ... MAC address conversion routine 61 ... Microcomputer user created program 62 ... MAC address conversion routine 63 ... Program linker 64 ... Microcomputer program

Claims (17)

A flash memory holding a MAC address (Media Access Control address) vendor code and a MAC address conversion routine;
A CPU that reads a chip ID of a microcomputer, generates a serial number of the MAC address based on the chip ID according to the MAC address conversion routine, and generates a MAC address by combining the vendor code and the serial number; Semiconductor device. The semiconductor device according to claim 1,
The chip ID is
Lot production year and
Lot production month,
Lot serial number,
Wafer number and
Wafer coordinate position,
The CPU
Means for generating a converted block based on the lot manufacturing year, the lot manufacturing month, and the lot serial number in accordance with the MAC address conversion routine;
Means for generating a serial number within the lot based on the wafer number and the wafer coordinate position;
Means for generating the serial number by combining the converted block and the serial number in the lot;
A semiconductor device comprising means for generating the MAC address by combining the vendor code and the serial number. The semiconductor device according to claim 2,
The means for generating the in-lot serial number generates the in-lot serial number by combining the wafer number and the wafer coordinate position. The semiconductor device according to claim 3,
The means for generating the converted block is a 7-bit converted block by rearranging a 4-bit lot manufacturing year, a 4-bit lot manufacturing month, and a 12-bit lot serial number according to the MAC address conversion routine. Produces
The means for generating the in-lot serial number generates a 17-bit in-lot serial number by combining a 5-bit wafer number and a 12-bit wafer coordinate position,
The means for generating the serial number generates a 24-bit serial number by combining a 7-bit converted block and a 17-bit in-lot serial number. The semiconductor device according to claim 2,
The means for generating the intra-lot serial number rearranges the wafer number and the wafer coordinate position according to the MAC address conversion routine, and generates the intra-lot serial number. A microcomputer to which a chip ID is assigned;
A MAC that reads the chip ID, generates a serial number of a MAC address based on the chip ID, generates a MAC address by combining a vendor code of the MAC address and the serial number, and manages the generated MAC address A MAC address management system including an address management device. The MAC address management system according to claim 6,
The chip ID is
Lot production year and
Lot production month,
Lot serial number and
Wafer number,
Wafer coordinate position,
The MAC address management device
Means for generating a converted block based on the lot production year, the lot production month, and the lot serial number;
Means for generating a serial number within the lot based on the wafer number and the wafer coordinate position;
Means for generating the serial number by combining the converted block and the serial number in the lot;
A MAC address management system comprising: means for generating the MAC address by combining the vendor code and the serial number. The MAC address management system according to claim 7,
The means for generating the intra-lot serial number generates the intra-lot serial number by combining the wafer number and the wafer coordinate position. The MAC address management system according to claim 8,
The means for generating the converted block is a 7-bit converted block by rearranging a 4-bit lot manufacturing year, a 4-bit lot manufacturing month, and a 12-bit lot serial number according to the MAC address conversion routine. Produces
The means for generating the in-lot serial number generates a 17-bit in-lot serial number by combining a 5-bit wafer number and a 12-bit wafer coordinate position,
The means for generating the serial number is a MAC address management system that generates a 24-bit serial number by combining a 7-bit converted block and a 17-bit in-lot serial number. The MAC address management system according to claim 7,
The means for generating the intra-lot serial number rearranges the wafer number and the wafer coordinate position to generate the intra-lot serial number. MAC address management system. The MAC address management system according to claim 9 or 10,
The MAC address management device outputs a relocation specification as a MAC address conversion routine. Read the chip ID of the microcomputer,
Generate a MAC address serial number based on the chip ID,
A MAC address is generated by combining the MAC address vendor code and the serial number,
A MAC address management method for managing the generated MAC address. The MAC address management method according to claim 12, comprising:
Referring to the chip ID, the lot production year, lot production month, lot serial number, wafer number, and wafer coordinate position are obtained,
Based on the lot production year, the lot production month, and the lot serial number, a converted block is generated,
Based on the wafer number and the wafer coordinate position, generate a serial number in the lot,
The serial number is generated by combining the converted block and the serial number in the lot,
A MAC address management method for generating the MAC address by combining the vendor code and the serial number. The MAC address management method according to claim 13,
A MAC address management method for generating the serial number in a lot by combining the wafer number and the wafer coordinate position when generating the serial number in the lot. The MAC address management method according to claim 14,
When generating the converted block, the 7-bit converted block is rearranged by rearranging the 4-bit lot manufacturing year, 4-bit lot manufacturing month, and 12-bit lot serial number according to the MAC address conversion routine. Generate and
When generating the intra-lot serial number, a 5-bit wafer number and a 12-bit wafer coordinate position are combined to generate a 17-bit intra-lot serial number;
A MAC address management method for generating a 24-bit serial number by combining a 7-bit converted block and a 17-bit in-lot serial number when generating the serial number. The MAC address management method according to claim 13,
A MAC address management method for generating the serial number in a lot by rearranging the wafer number and the wafer coordinate position when generating the serial number in the lot. The MAC address management method according to claim 15 or 16,
A MAC address management method for outputting a relocation specification as a MAC address conversion routine.

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