Patent · US Active

Secure platform voucher service for software components within an execution environment

US8132003B2 · kind B2 · utility

21Cited by
6References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 28, 2007
Grant dateMar 6, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 2, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L2209/60
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Embodiments of apparatus, articles, methods, and systems for secure platform voucher service for software components within an execution environment are generally described herein. An embodiment includes the ability for a Virtual Machine Monitor, Operating System Monitor, or other underlying platform capability to restrict memory regions for access only by specifically authenticated, authorized and verified software components, even when part of an otherwise compromised operating system environment. A provisioning remote entity or gateway only needs to know a platform's public key or certificate hierarchy in order to receive verification proof for any component in the platform. The verification proof or voucher helps to assure to the remote entity that no man-in-the-middle, rootkit, spyware or other malware running in the platform or on the network will have access to the provisioned material. The underlying platform to lock and unlock secrets on behalf of the authenticated/authorized/verified software component provided in protected memory regions only accessible to the authenticated/authorized/verified software component. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

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