System and method for securely storing firmware
US8181020B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 1, 2006 |
| Grant date | May 15, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 20, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F21/575
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A mechanism for creating and accessing a secure storage area for firmware that stores a “Virtual ROM” module reference or pointer in the actual ROM that includes a unique identifier for the virtual ROM module to be retrieved is discussed. The actual ROM image also contains a generated unique identifier for the whole machine. In retrieving a Virtual ROM module, both the module identifier and the machine identifier are used. Once retrieved, the module is validated using a message digest stored in the Virtual ROM module reference. If required, the Virtual ROM module is then decrypted using a secret key that is stored elsewhere in the actual ROM. Updates to the Virtual ROM module are made in memory by pre-boot code. At a point in time when these updates are complete, the Virtual ROM module is written back out to the location from which it was retrieved. The Virtual ROM module reference that is in the actual ROM is updated to reflect the new message digest value and the module reference and the machine identifier used for the PC are write-disabled. Additionally, if the storage has been encrypted, and a secret key is being used, the region of the actual ROM that contains the secret key i…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.