TPE: Trajectory Path Encoding for Anonymous Routing Algorithm in NoC-based Systems

The use of Network on Chip (NoC) in multi-core systems offers a flexible and scalable interconnection framework. However, concerns have been raised about Hardware Trojans (HT) due to the decentralized supply chain caused by globalization, especially in relation to third-party Intellectual Property (M3PIP). Of various HT attacks, eavesdropping is particularly worrisome as it operates with minimal power consumption and does not immediately disrupt system operations, compromising the reliability of NoC. Current research often focuses on packet payload encryption, overlooking potential risks associated with unsecured packet headers. To address this, we propose the Trajectory Path Encoding method, which establishes transport layer anonymity by substituting packet header details with specialized encoding based on the packet’s routing path. This method aims to prevent eavesdropping attacks and minimize data leakage. The approach involves encoding packets at the Network Interface (NI) and decoding them at the Router to enable anonymous transmission. Experimental results have shown a significant reduction in overall transmission latency up to 73.4% compared to related works. Additionally, when compared to the baseline design achieving an average overall reduction of approximately 79.7% in data leakage.