Secure architecture and apparatus using an independent computer cartridge
US5581763A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 29, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 3, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 29, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2221/2153
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A portable secure computer architecture, apparatus, and method for protecting information and at least one program for controlling that information is disclosed comprising: a computer protected inside of a single sealed cartridge, the computer having a CPU, Memory, and a communications means for communicating with a host computer outside of the cartridge. All internal information and external communications are exclusively controlled by the internal program. Provision is also made for running a second program inside the architecture, while protecting secure information from that second program. Secure information is placed in a bank switched subdivision of memory. The subdivision is switched off by the information controlling program before the second program is permitted to run. Reactivating the protected subdivision causes a simultaneous non-maskable interrupt halting the second program and transferring control back to the first program.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.