Secure boot up of a computer based on a hardware based root of trust
US8775784B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 11, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jul 8, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 24, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/4401
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method includes performing a boot up of a computer having a system on-chip having multiple processors and a nonvolatile read-only machine-readable medium. The boot up includes enabling a first processor of the multiple processors, while maintaining others of the multiple processors in a disabled state. The boot up includes retrieving initial stage instructions from the nonvolatile read-only machine-readable medium. The boot up also includes executing the initial stage instructions and validating multiple stages of firmware separately. The boot up includes, in response to validating the multiple stages of firmware, executing the multiple stages of firmware in consecutive stages of the boot up, wherein executing of each stage of the multiple stages of firmware enables a different set of disabled hardware components of the computer. The boot up also includes validating an operating system and, in response to validation, transferring control of the computer to the operating system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.