Restricted software and hardware usage on a computer

• US 20060053283A1
• Filed: 11/03/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Feinleib, David A., Moran, Brian K., Kolb, Kurt, Swed, Jacob D., Haroun, Wassef, Kempin, Joachim, Gulledge, Carl L., Stubbs, Edward L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,603,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/165
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1063 Personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/51 at application loading time, e.g. accepting, rejecting, starting or inhibiting executable software based on integrity or source reliability

Abstract

A client computer runs an operating system that executes additional applications by loading them using an application loader and executes device drivers for peripheral devices by loading the drivers using a device loader. The operating system restricts the functionality of the operating system, such as by making selected portions and functionality of the operating system unavailable to the user or by limiting the user'"'"'s ability to add software applications or device drivers to the computer. Additionally, various techniques can be used to remove or reduce the functionality limitations of the computer

Claims

1. A method comprising:

installing an operating system on a computer;

identifying a set of files that include executable code that is to be available for execution by the computer, identifiers of the set of files being included in a digest catalog; and

preventing, by the operating system, additional files that are not identified in the digest catalog from being added to the computer.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the preventing comprises limiting access to portions of a storage device of the computer.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the preventing comprises preventing particular applications from being loaded into memory of the computer.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving a payment for the computer that is less than payments received for computers that are not prevented from adding additional files that are not identified in the digest catalog.

5. One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to:

install an operating system on a computer;

identify a set of files that include executable code that is to be available for execution by the computer, identifiers of the set of files being included in a digest catalog; and

prevent, by the operating system, additional files that are not identified in the digest catalog from being added to the computer.