System and method for trustworthy metering and deactivation
First Claim
1. A method for operating a computer comprising:
- setting the computer in a first operating mode;
determining when an output signal is consistent with the first operating mode; and
presenting the output signal to a corresponding output device when the output signal is consistent with the first operating mode.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer is adapted for use in different operating modes by configuring an output controller, such as a graphics processing unit, to screen output signals prior to presenting them to the output device. A secure environment in the output controller verifies a digital signature or a hash of the output signal to determine whether the output signal is compatible with the current mode of operation. Thus only authorized output signals are presented when the computer is operating in a limited function mode, such as when metered usage time is expired. The apparatus and method also disclose similar output signal screening for determining whether the computer should be returned from a standby, or no-metering, mode to an active, or metered mode.
19 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for operating a computer comprising:
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setting the computer in a first operating mode;
determining when an output signal is consistent with the first operating mode; and
presenting the output signal to a corresponding output device when the output signal is consistent with the first operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer adapted for operation in a plurality of operating modes comprising:
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a first output device; and
a first output controller coupled to the first output device comprising;
a first isolated computing environment; and
a memory storing a bit pattern corresponding to output data intended for presentation to the first output device, wherein the first isolated computing environment analyzes the bit pattern to determine if the output data are consistent with a current operating mode of the computer. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An output controller for use in a computer comprising:
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an input coupled to the computer;
an output coupled to a device;
a processor coupled between the input and the output for receiving data from the computer and presenting a form of the data to the device; and
a communication interface for communicating with a component of the computer;
wherein the processor receives information corresponding to an operating mode of the computer and analyzes the data to determine if the data is consistent with the operating mode of the computer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification