CAD-Watermarking Tools for IP Design: Threat Model and Countermeasures

Abstract

Computer-aided design (CAD)-based intellectual property (IP) cores play a pivotal role in the design of computing systems used in major devices ranging from cameras, camcorders, smart phones, smart watches, network devices, set-top boxes to artificial intelligence/machine learning chips. However, due to globalization in the design chain process, emergence of fraud IP ownership and IP piracy threats are on the rise. IP piracy/fraud IP ownership threats may infuse unreliable and malicious IP designs into the computing systems of such devices as well as induce revenue loss while sabotaging the reputation of the vendor/company. This article presents state-of-the-art CAD watermarking tools for secure IP design, along with lucid discussion of its threat model, points of vulnerability, as well IP watermarking as its countermeasure. The article also presents comparative analysis of different CAD watermarking tools for IP design and recommends some effective ones that can potentially offer maximal resilience against such threats. © 1999-2012 IEEE.