US 7,013,384 B2 · Computer system with selectively available immutable boot block code

Abstract

A computer system contains selectively available boot block codes. A first boot block is of the conventional type and is stored in storage media such as flash ROM on a system planar with the processor of the computer system. A second boot block is located on a feature card and contains an immutable security code in compliance with the Trusted Computing Platform Alliance (TCPA) specification. The boot block on the feature card is enabled if the first boot block detects the presence of the feature card. The computer system can be readily modified as the computer system is reconfigured, while maintaining compliance with the TCPA specification. A switching mechanism controls which of the boot blocks is to be activated. The feature card is disabled in the event of a computer system reset to prevent access to the TCPA compliant code and function.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A computer system comprising:

a processor;
input means for receiving input from a user;
a display device for providing visual output from the operating system to the user;
a system bus connecting the processor to the display device and the input means;
machine readable storage media coupled to the system bus for storing programs performable by the processor, including a boot block for loading an operating system for the computer system;
and
a feature card with memory storage media for a second boot block for loading an operating system for the computer and security code within said memory storage media for measuring security compliance of the second boot block when enabled wherein compliance with the Trusted Computing Platform Alliance specification is provided by said feature card.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Computer system with selectively available immutable boot block code

Life of this patent

Computer system with selectively available immutable boot block code

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15