Securely launching encrypted operating systems
US7913074B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 28, 2007 |
| Grant date | Mar 22, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 24, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F15/16
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Tools and techniques for securely launching encrypted operating systems are described herein. The tools may provide computing systems that include operating systems (OSs) that define boot paths for the systems. This boot path may include first and second OS loader components. The first loader may include instructions for retrieving a list of disk sectors from a first store, and for retrieving these specified sectors from an encrypted second store. The first loader may also store the sectors in a third store that is accessible to both the first and the second loader components, and may invoke the second loader to try launching the OS using these sectors. In turn, the second loader may include instructions for retrieving these sectors from the third store, and for unsealing a key for decrypting these sectors. The second loader may then decrypt these sectors, and attempt to launch the OS from these sectors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.