Method and apparatus for protecting data using lock values in a computer system
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsMark S. Shipman, Orville H. Christeson, Timothy E. W. Labatte
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for protecting data using lock values in a computer system includes indicating that the computer system does not support locked accesses to the data. However, upon receipt of a request to write to the storage area where the data is contained, the present invention checks whether a lock value corresponding to the request matches a predetermined lock value. If the lock value matches the predetermined lock value, then the data is written to the storage area; otherwise, the storage area is left unmodified.
Claims23
A method for protecting a storage area in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) indicating that the storage area does not support locked accesses;
- (b) receiving a request to perform a locked access write to the storage area;
- (c) checking whether a first lock value corresponding to the request matches a predetermined lock value notwithstanding having performed step (a) indicating that the storage area does not support locked accesses;
- and
- (d) writing data corresponding to the request to the storage area provided the first lock value matches the predetermined lock value, otherwise leaving the storage area unmodified.
A method for protecting a nonvolatile storage area in a computer system, wherein the computer system is compatible with a desktop management interface BIOS specification, wherein the method comprises the computer-implemented steps of:
- (a) indicating that the computer system does not support locked writes to the nonvolatile storage area;
- (b) receiving a request to perform a locked write to the nonvolatile storage area;
- (c) checking whether a first lock value corresponding to the request is valid based on a predetermined lock value, notwithstanding having indicated that the computer system does not support locked writes to the nonvolatile storage area;
- and
- (d) writing data corresponding to the request to the nonvolatile storage area provided the first lock value is valid, otherwise leaving the nonvolatile storage area unmodified.
A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:
- (a) indicating that one or more storage areas do not support locked accesses;
- (b) receiving a request to perform a locked write to a first storage area of the one or more storage areas;
- (c) checking whether a first lock value corresponding to the request matches a predetermined lock value notwithstanding the indicating step (a);
- and
- (d) writing data corresponding to the request to the first storage area provided the first lock value matches the predetermined lock value, otherwise leaving the first storage area unmodified.
An apparatus comprising:
- logic to indicate that one or more storage areas cannot be locked;
- logic to receive a request to perform a locked write to a first storage area of the one or more storage areas;
- logic to check whether a first lock value corresponding to the request is valid notwithstanding having indicated that the one or more storage areas cannot be locked;
- and
- logic to write data corresponding to the request to the first storage area provided the first lock value is valid, and to otherwise leave the first storage area unmodified.
An apparatus for protecting a nonvolatile storage area in a computer system, wherein the computer system is compliant with a desktop management interface BIOS specification, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- means for indicating that the computer system does not support locking of the nonvolatile storage area;
- means for receiving a request to perform a locked write to the nonvolatile storage area;
- means for checking whether a first lock value corresponding to the request matches a predetermined lock value notwithstanding the means for indicating that the computer system does not support write locking of the nonvolatile storage area;
- and
- means for writing data corresponding to the request to the nonvolatile storage area provided the first lock value matches the predetermined lock value, otherwise leaving the nonvolatile storage area unmodified.
A method comprising:
- indicating that a storage area does not support locked accesses;
- receiving a request to perform a locked access write to the storage area;
- checking whether a first lock value corresponding to the request is valid notwithstanding having indicated that the storage area does not support locked accesses;
- and
- writing data corresponding to the request to the storage area provided the first lock value is valid, otherwise leaving the storage area unmodified.
A hardware-readable medium which stores a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
- indicate that one or more storage areas do not support locked accesses;
- receive a request to perform a locked write to a first storage area of the one or more storage areas;
- check whether a first lock value corresponding to the request is valid notwithstanding having indicated that the one or more storage areas do not support locked accesses;
- and
- write data corresponding to the request to the first storage area provided the first lock value is valid, and to otherwise leave the first storage area unmodified.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.