Patent · US Expired

Privilege level checking instruction for implementing a secure hierarchical computer system

US4809160A · kind A · utility

150Cited by
6References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 28, 1985
Grant dateFeb 28, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 28, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F9/45537
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A low overhead way for insuring that only routines of sufficient privilege can execute on a secured page of memory in an hierarchial computer system, and for raising the privilege level of a low privilege process in an orderly and secure way is presented. This is done through the execution of a single "gateway" branch instruction standing between a procedure call by a lower privileged routine, such as a user program, and an operating system itself.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.