Method of and apparatus for ascertaining the status of a data processing environment
First Claim
1. An apparatus for ascertaining the status of a data processing environment, comprising at least one trusted computing device which is arranged to challenge other devices within a data processing environment, to keep a record of the response and to make the record available.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In order to facilitate a user'"'"'s ability to trust a computing environment, a trusted computing device (2) is arranged to challenge other devices in the computing environment and to record a log of the facilities available within the computing environment and an indication of whether those facilities are trustworthy. A new user (40) entering the computing environment can obtain the log from the trusted computing device in order to ascertain the status of the environment. Alternatively any device can hold data concerning platforms in its vicinity and its operation can be authenticated by the trusted device.
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Citations
24 Claims
- 1. An apparatus for ascertaining the status of a data processing environment, comprising at least one trusted computing device which is arranged to challenge other devices within a data processing environment, to keep a record of the response and to make the record available.
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12. A computing device including a communication device and a data processor, wherein the data processor is arranged to establish communication with a trusted computing device via the communication device, to receive at least part of the record of responses and to establish from an internal rules base whether the data processing environment is trustworthy enough to enable a class of transaction or task to be carried out in that environment.
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13. A computing device including a communication device and a data processor, wherein the computing device uses the communication device to establish communication with at least one device within a data processing system, and in which the data processor is arranged to identify challenges from at least one trusted computing device, to apply response rules to the challenge and, if a response indicated, to respond to the challenge in accordance with the rules.
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16. A method of ascertaining the status of a data processing environment, comprising the following steps:
a trusted computing device challenges other devices within a data processing environment, keeps a record of responses made to the challenges and makes the record available.
- 21. A method of conducting a transaction in a data processing environment comprising a user device and at least a trusted computing device each having respective communication capabilities wherein the trusted computing device keeps a record of computing devices that it has identified within the data processing environment, and whereby the user device establishes communication with the trusted computing device, the trusted computing device sends to the user device at least a portion of the record of computing devices within the data processing environment, and the user device analyses the record to establish what facilitates the user device may access.
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23. An apparatus for ascertaining the status of a data processing environment, comprising at least one trusted computing device which is arranged to make periodic challenges to other devices within a data processing environment, to analyse the responses it receives in order to determine if given devices in the data processing environment are trustworthy, to keep a record of the response and to make the record available to other devices in the data processing environment.
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24. A method of ascertaining the status of a data processing environment, comprising the following steps:
a trusted computing device makes multiple challenges to other devices within a data processing environment, keeps a record of responses made to the challenges, analyses the responses it receives in order to determine if given devices in the data processing environment are trustworthy and makes the record available to other devices in the data processing environment.
Specification