DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EXECUTING A PROGRAM, AND METHOD FOR STORING A PROGRAM

摘要

A device and a method for executing a program, and a method for storing a program are described. The method of executing a program includes a sequence of instruction cycles, wherein each instruction cycle comprises: updating the program counter value (1.1); reading (1.2) a data word (w) from a memory location identified by the updated program counter value, wherein the data word (w) comprises an instruction (&pgr;) and a protection signature (χ); determining (1.3) a verification signature (χ) by applying a signature function (&Ggr;-->χ) associated with the program counter value to the instruction (&Ggr;); executing (1.6) the instruction (&Ggr;) if the verification signature and the protection signature (χ) are consistent with each other; and initiating (1.5) an error action if they are inconsistent with each other. A method for storing a program on a data carrier is also described.