1. A method for updating identity information in an aircraft network data processing system on an aircraft, comprising:
receiving, by the aircraft network data processing system, updated identity information and a digital signature for the updated identity information from a data processing device connected to the aircraft network data processing system;
determining, by the aircraft network data processing system, whether the digital signature is correct;
determining, by the aircraft network data processing system, whether the updated identity information is newer than current identity information stored in persistent storage in the aircraft network data processing system; and
responsive to determinations that the digital signature is correct and that the updated identity information is newer than the current identity information, storing the updated identity information in the persistent storage in the aircraft network data processing system.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
determining, by the aircraft network data processing system, whether the data processing device is allowed to access the aircraft network data processing system using the updated identity information.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated identity information comprises an updated certificate revocation list,
wherein the current identity information comprises a current certificate revocation list,
wherein receiving the updated identity information and the digital signature for the updated identity information from the data processing device connected to the aircraft network data processing system comprises receiving, by the aircraft network data processing system, the updated certificate revocation list and a digital signature for the updated certificate revocation list from the data processing device connected to the aircraft network data processing system,
wherein determining whether the updated identity information is newer than the current identity information stored in the persistent storage in the aircraft network data processing system comprises determining, by the aircraft network data processing system, whether the updated certificate revocation list is newer than the current certificate revocation list, further wherein the current certificate revocation list is stored in the persistent storage in the aircraft network data processing system, and
wherein storing the updated identity information in the persistent storage in the aircraft network data processing system comprises, responsive to determinations that the digital signature is correct and that the updated certificate revocation list is newer than the current certificate revocation list, storing the updated certificate revocation list in the persistent storage in the aircraft network data processing system.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated identity information comprises updated device configuration information for a plurality of device configurations,
wherein the current identity information comprises current device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations,
wherein receiving the updated identity information and the digital signature for the updated identity information from the data processing device connected to the aircraft network data processing system comprises receiving, by the aircraft network data processing system, the updated device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations and a digital signature for the updated device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations from the data processing device connected to the aircraft network data processing system,
wherein determining whether the updated identity information is newer than the current identity information stored in the persistent storage in the aircraft network data processing system comprises determining, by the aircraft network data processing system, whether the updated device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations is newer than the current device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations, further wherein the current device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations is stored in the persistent storage in the aircraft network data processing system, and
wherein storing the updated identity information in the persistent storage in the aircraft network data processing system comprises, responsive to determinations that the digital signature is correct and that the updated device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations is newer than the current device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations, storing the updated device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations in the persistent storage in the aircraft network data processing system.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving, by the aircraft network data processing system, an aircraft software part number for the updated identity information from the data processing device; and
changing an aircraft configuration for the aircraft using the aircraft software part number.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data processing device is a portable maintenance device.
7. An apparatus comprising:
a processor unit on an aircraft network data processing system on an aircraft configured to:
receive updated identity information and a digital signature for the updated identity information from a data processing device connected to the aircraft network data processing system;
determine whether the digital signature is correct;
determine whether the updated identity information is newer than current identity information stored in persistent storage in the aircraft network data processing system; and
store the updated identity information in the persistent storage in response to determinations that the digital signature is correct and that the updated identity information is newer than the current identity information.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processor unit on the aircraft network data processing system on the aircraft is further configured to:
determine whether the data processing device is allowed to access the aircraft network data processing system using the updated identity information.
9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the updated identity information comprises an updated certificate revocation list,
wherein the current identity information comprises a current certificate revocation list,
wherein the processor unit is configured to receive the updated certificate revocation list and a digital signature for the updated certificate revocation list from the data processing device connected to the aircraft network data processing system,
wherein the processor unit is configured to determine whether the updated certificate revocation list is newer than the current certificate revocation list, further wherein the current certificate revocation list is stored in the persistent storage in the aircraft network data processing system, and
wherein the processor unit is configured to store the updated certificate revocation list in the persistent storage in response to determinations that the digital signature is correct and that the updated certificate revocation list is newer than the current certificate revocation list.
10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the updated identity information comprises updated device configuration information for a plurality of device configurations,
wherein the current identity information comprises current device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations,
wherein the processor unit is configured to receive the updated device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations and a digital signature for the updated device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations from the data processing device connected to the aircraft network data processing system,
wherein the processor unit is configured to determine whether the updated device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations is newer than the current device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations, further wherein the current device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations is stored in the persistent storage in the aircraft network data processing system, and
wherein the processor unit is configured to store the updated device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations in the persistent storage in response to determinations that the digital signature is correct and that the updated device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations is newer than the current device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations.
11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processor unit on the aircraft network data processing system on the aircraft is further configured to:
receive an aircraft software part number for the updated identity information from the data processing device; and
change an aircraft configuration for the aircraft using the aircraft software part number.
12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the data processing device is a portable maintenance device.
13. A method for updating identity information in an aircraft network data processing system on an aircraft, the method comprising:
connecting on the aircraft a data processing device to the aircraft network data processing system on the aircraft;
sending on the aircraft from the data processing device to the aircraft network data processing system on the aircraft updated identity information, a digital signature for the updated identity information, and a time stamp for the updated identity information, the updated identity information comprising information identifying a plurality of items;
sending on the aircraft the identity information for the data processing device from the data processing device to the aircraft network data processing system on the aircraft; and
accessing on the aircraft the aircraft network data processing system on the aircraft by the data processing device in response to a determination by the aircraft network data processing system on the aircraft that the data processing device is allowed to access the aircraft network data processing system on the aircraft,
wherein the aircraft network data processing system on the aircraft uses the updated identity information and the identity information for the data processing device to make the determination.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the updated identity information comprises an updated certificate revocation list,
wherein the identity information for the data processing device comprises a digital certificate for the data processing device,
wherein sending on the aircraft from the data processing device to the aircraft network data processing system on the aircraft the updated identity information, the digital signature for the updated identity information, and the time stamp for the updated identity information comprises sending on the aircraft from the data processing device to the aircraft network data processing system on the aircraft the updated certificate revocation list, a digital signature for the updated certificate revocation list, and a time stamp for the updated certificate revocation list, the updated certificate revocation list comprising the information identifying the plurality of items,
wherein sending on the aircraft the identity information for the data processing device from the data processing device to the aircraft network data processing system on the aircraft comprises sending on the aircraft the digital certificate for the data processing device from the data processing device to the aircraft network data processing system, and
wherein the aircraft network data processing system on the aircraft uses the updated certificate revocation list and the digital certificate for the data processing device to make the determination.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the updated identity information comprises updated device configuration information for a plurality of device configurations,
wherein the identity information for the data processing device comprises configuration information identifying a configuration of software on the data processing device,
wherein sending on the aircraft from the data processing device to the aircraft network data processing system on the aircraft the updated identity information, the digital signature for the updated identity information, and the time stamp for the updated identity information comprises sending on the aircraft from the data processing device to the aircraft network data processing system on the aircraft the updated device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations, a digital signature for the updated device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations, and a time stamp for the updated device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations, the updated device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations comprising the information identifying the plurality of items,
wherein sending on the aircraft the identity information for the data processing device from the data processing device to the aircraft network data processing system on the aircraft comprises sending on the aircraft the configuration information identifying the configuration of the software on the data processing device from the data processing device to the aircraft network data processing system, and
wherein the aircraft network data processing system on the aircraft uses the updated device configuration information for the plurality of device configurations and the configuration information identifying the configuration of the software on the data processing device to make the determination.
16. The method of claim 13 further comprising sending on the aircraft an aircraft software part number for the updated identity information from the data processing device to the aircraft network data processing system on the aircraft.
17. The method of claim 13 further comprising:
connecting the data processing device to a network;
loading the updated identity information onto the data processing device from the network; and
disconnecting the data processing device from the network after loading the updated identity information onto the data processing device and before connecting the data processing device to the aircraft network data processing system on the aircraft.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein the data processing device is a portable maintenance device.
19. The method of claim 6, wherein the portable maintenance device is connected on the aircraft to the aircraft network data processing system with a physical connection,
wherein the physical connection comprises one or more of an electric wire and a fiber optic connection,
wherein the updated identity information comprises an updated certificate revocation list,
wherein the current identity information comprises a current certificate revocation list,
wherein receiving, by the aircraft network data processing system, the updated identity information and the digital signature for the updated identity information from the data processing device connected to the aircraft network data processing system comprises receiving, by the aircraft network data processing system, the updated certificate revocation list and a digital signature for the updated certificate revocation list from the data processing device connected to the aircraft network data processing system,
wherein determining, by the aircraft network data processing system, whether the updated identity information is newer than the current identity information stored in the persistent storage in the aircraft network data processing system comprises determining, by the aircraft network data processing system, whether the updated certificate revocation list is newer than the current certificate revocation list, further wherein the current certificate revocation list is stored in the persistent storage in the aircraft network data processing system, and
wherein responsive to the determinations that the digital signature is correct and that the updated identity information is newer than the current identity information, storing the updated identity information in the persistent storage in the aircraft network data processing system comprises responsive to the determinations that the digital signature is correct and that the updated certificate revocation list is newer than the current certificate revocation list, storing the updated certificate revocation list in the persistent storage in the aircraft network data processing system.
20. The method of claim 12, wherein the portable maintenance device is connected on the aircraft to the aircraft network data processing system with a physical connection,
wherein the physical connection comprises one or more of an electric wire and a fiber optic connection,
wherein the updated identity information comprises an updated certificate revocation list,
wherein the current identity information comprises a current certificate revocation list,
wherein receive the updated identity information and the digital signature for the updated identity information from the data processing device connected to the aircraft network data processing system comprises receive the updated certificate revocation list and a digital signature for the updated certificate revocation list from the data processing device connected to the aircraft network data processing system,
wherein determine whether the updated identity information is newer than the current identity information stored in the persistent storage in the aircraft network data processing system comprises determine whether the updated certificate revocation list is newer than the current certificate revocation list, further wherein the current certificate revocation list is stored in the persistent storage in the aircraft network data processing system, and
wherein store the updated identity information in the persistent storage in response to the determinations that the digital signature is correct and that the updated identity information is newer than the current identity information comprises store the updated certificate revocation list in the persistent storage in response to the determinations that the digital signature is correct and that the updated certificate revocation list is newer than the current certificate revocation list.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A semiconductor structure comprising:
a material stack comprising a dielectric having a dielectric constant of greater than silicon dioxide, a metal impurity containing layer comprising a metal-containing material and at least one workfunction altering metal impurity therein located above said dielectric, and a conductive electrode located directly on an upper surface of said metal impurity containing layer.
2. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 further comprising an interfacial layer located beneath said dielectric.
3. The semiconductor structure of claim 2 wherein said interfacial layer comprises a semiconducting oxide, a semiconducting oxynitride or a nitrided semiconducting oxide.
4. The semiconductor structure of claim 2 further comprising a semiconductor substrate located beneath said interfacial layer.
5. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 further comprising a semiconductor substrate located beneath said dielectric.
6. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 wherein said dielectric is a Hf-based dielectric comprising hafnium oxide, hafnium silicate, hafnium silicon oxynitride, a mixture of hafnium oxide and zirconium oxide, or multilayers thereof.
7. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 wherein said metal-containing material comprises a metal nitride, a metal carbide or a metal silicon nitride, wherein said metal is from Group IVB or VB of the Periodic Table of Elements.
8. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 wherein said metal-containing material comprises TiN or TiON.
9. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 wherein said at least one workfunction altering metal impurity is for altering an n-type gate stack.
10. The semiconductor structure of claim 9 wherein said at least one workfunction altering metal impurity comprises an element from Group IIIB of the Periodic Table of Elements, an element from Group IVB of the Periodic Table of Elements, an element from Group VII of the Periodic Table of Elements or an element from the Lanthanide Series.
11. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 wherein said at least one workfunction altering metal impurity is for altering a p-type gate stack.
12. The semiconductor structure of claim 11 wherein said at least one workfunction altering metal impurity comprises an element from VIB of the Periodic Table of Elements, an element from Group VIIB of the Periodic Table of Elements or an element from Group VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements.
13. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 wherein said material stack is a component of a field effect transistor, a metal oxide semiconductor capacitor or a combination thereof.
14. A semiconductor structure comprising:
a material stack comprising a Hf-based dielectric, a metal impurity containing layer comprising TiN or TiON and at least one workfunction altering metal impurity located above said Hf-based dielectric, and a polysilicon electrode located directly on an upper surface of said metal impurity containing layer.
15. The semiconductor structure of claim 14 further comprising an interfacial layer located beneath said dielectric.
16. The semiconductor structure of claim 15 wherein said interfacial layer comprises a semiconducting oxide, a semiconducting nitride or a semiconducting oxynitride.
17. The semiconductor structure of claim 15 further comprising a semiconductor substrate located beneath said interfacial layer.
18. The semiconductor structure of claim 14 further comprising a semiconductor substrate located beneath said dielectric.
19. The semiconductor structure of claim 14 wherein said dielectric Hf-based dielectric comprises hafnium oxide, hafnium silicate, hafnium silicon oxynitride, a mixture of hafnium oxide and zirconium oxide, or multilayers thereof.
20. The semiconductor structure of claim 14 wherein said metal impurity containing layer comprises TiN.
21. The semiconductor structure of claim 14 wherein said metal impurity containing layer comprises TiON.
22. The semiconductor structure of claim 14 wherein said at least one workfunction altering metal impurity is for altering an n-type gate stack.
23. The semiconductor structure of claim 22 wherein said at least one workfunction altering metal impurity comprises an element from Group IIIB of the Periodic Table of Elements, an element from Group IVB of the Periodic Table of Elements, an element from Group VII of the Periodic Table of Elements or an element from the Lanthanide Series.
24. The semiconductor structure of claim 14 wherein said at least one workfunction altering metal impurity is for altering a p-type gate stack.
25. The semiconductor structure of claim 24 wherein said at least one workfunction altering metal impurity comprises an element from VIB of the Periodic Table of Elements, an element from Group VIIB of the Periodic Table of Elements or an element from Group VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements.
26. The semiconductor structure of claim 14 wherein said material stack is a component of a field effect transistor, a metal oxide semiconductor capacitor or a combination thereof.
27. A method of changing workfunction of a conductive stack comprising:
providing a material stack that comprises a dielectric having a dielectric constant of greater than silicon dioxide, a metal-containing material located above said dielectric, and a conductive electrode located directly on an upper surface of said metal-containing material; and
introducing at least one workfunction altering metal impurity into said metal-containing material wherein said at least one workfunction altering metal impurity is introduced during forming of a metal impurity containing layer or after formation of a layer containing said metal-containing material.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein said introducing the at least one workfunction altering metal impurity into said metal-containing material comprises codeposition of the at least one workfunction altering metal impurity and the metal-containing material.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein said codeposition comprises sputtering or chemical vapor deposition.
30. The method of claim 27 wherein said introducing the at least one workfunction altering metal impurity into said metal-containing material comprises forming a first layer of the metal-containing material, forming a layer containing the metal impurities on said first layer, and forming a second layer of the metal-containing material.
31. The method of claim 27 wherein said introducing the at least one workfunction altering metal impurity into said metal-containing material comprises forming a material layer containing the metal impurities below andor above the metal-containing material, and subjecting the material stack to a thermal process.