Tamper proof location services
US8560839B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 2010 |
| Grant date | Oct 15, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 19, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2221/2111
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A secure location system is described herein that leverages location-based services and hardware to make access decisions. Many mobile computers have location devices, such as GPS. They also have a trusted platform module (TPM) or other security device. Currently GPS location data is made directly accessible to untrusted application code using a simple protocol. The secure location system provides a secure mechanism whereby the GPS location of a computer at a specific time can be certified by the operating system kernel and TPM. The secure location system logs user activity with a label indicating the geographic location of the computing device at the time of the activity. The secure location system can provide a difficult to forge, time-stamped location through a combination of kernel-mode GPS access and TPM security hardware. Thus, the secure location system incorporates secure location information into authorization and other operating system decisions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.