US 8,819,830 B2 · Virus co-processor instructions and methods for using such

Abstract

Circuits and methods for detecting, identifying and/or removing undesired content are provided. According to one embodiment, a method for virus processing is provided. A data segment is received by a general purpose processor coupled to a virus co-processor and a memory via an interconnect bus. The memory includes a first signature and a second signature. The first includes a primitive instruction and a Content Pattern Recognition (CPR) instruction stored at contiguous locations in the memory and compiled for hardware execution on the co-processor. The second is compiled for software execution. The data segment is scanned by the general purpose processor by applying the second signature against the data segment. The co-processor is directed by the general purpose processor to scan the data segment by applying the first signature against the data segment by storing the data segment to the memory and indicating a request for a scan to the co-processor.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A virus processing system, the virus processing system comprising:

a virus co-processor supporting virus processing by hardware accelerating execution of a plurality of virus signatures complied for hardware execution on the virus co-processor;
a memory communicably coupled to the virus co-processor, wherein the memory includes a first virus signature of the plurality of virus signatures compiled for execution on the virus co-processor, and wherein the first virus signature includes at least one primitive instruction and at least one Content Pattern Recognition (CPR) instruction stored at contiguous locations in the memory;
an interconnect bus;
a general purpose processor, wherein the general purpose processor is communicably coupled to the virus co-processor via the interconnect bus;
and
the memory communicably coupled to the general purpose processor, wherein the memory includes a second virus signature compiled for execution on the general purpose processor.

3 more elements

A method for virus processing, the method comprising:

receiving a data segment, by a general purpose processor, wherein the general purpose processor is communicably coupled to a virus co-processor and a memory via an interconnect bus, wherein the virus co-processor functions as a virus processing hardware accelerator, wherein the memory includes a first virus signature compiled for hardware execution on the virus co-processor, and wherein the first virus signature includes at least one primitive instruction and at least one Content Pattern Recognition (CPR) instruction stored at contiguous locations in the memory, and wherein the memory further includes a second virus signature compiled for software execution;
and
scanning the data segment, by the general purpose processor, including applying the second virus signature against the data segment by software executing the second virus signature;
and
causing, by the general purpose processor, the virus co-processor to scan the data segment, including hardware executing the first virus signature to apply the first virus signature against the data segment by
storing the data segment to the memory;
and
indicating a request for a virus scan to the virus co-processor.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Virus co-processor instructions and methods for using such

Life of this patent

Virus co-processor instructions and methods for using such

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19