Data Processing Systems and Methods
First Claim
1. In a computer device that employs BIOS code, part of which performs a Power On Self Test sequence of operations, part of which collects hardware configuration information and provides same in connection with initiating an operating system, at least some of said BIOS code being stored in a non-volatile memory, an improvement wherein said BIOS code includes code to perform one or more functions from a group consisting of:
- watermark decoding, watermark encoding and content fingerprinting.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various improvements to data processing systems involve enhancements to BIOS functionality, use of identifiers associated with specific instances of hardware, and data hiding techniques—sometimes alone, sometimes in combination. Many of these improvements can be applied to increase the security of computer systems, and networks of which they form part.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. In a computer device that employs BIOS code, part of which performs a Power On Self Test sequence of operations, part of which collects hardware configuration information and provides same in connection with initiating an operating system, at least some of said BIOS code being stored in a non-volatile memory, an improvement wherein said BIOS code includes code to perform one or more functions from a group consisting of:
- watermark decoding, watermark encoding and content fingerprinting.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 26)
- 11. In an initial, boot phase of a computer system'"'"'s operation that comprises executing BIOS code to perform a Power On Self Test series of operations, and thereafter initiating operating system software, the system including a semiconductor device, an improvement comprising determining an essentially unique identifier associated with said semiconductor device before initiation of said operating system software, and after said initial boot phase of operation, making data related to said identifier available to application software executing on said computer system.
- 17. In a method that includes digitally watermarking an audio or visual content object with data, an improvement that includes determining from a semiconductor device an identifier associated therewith, said identifier being essentially unique because of random process variations inherent in fabrication of said device, and wherein said watermark is determined, at least in part, by reference to said identifier.
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19. A method employing a computer system with a semiconductor device, the method comprising the acts:
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during a boot phase of the computer system operation that includes executing BIOS code to perform a Power On Self Test series of operations and thereafter initiating operating system software, determining an essentially unique identifier associated with said semiconductor device, said identifier being essentially unique because of random process variations inherent in fabrication of said device; and making data related to said identifier available to a computer system process that follows said initiation of the operating system software. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method employing a computer system with a semiconductor device, the method comprising the acts:
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during a boot phase of the computer system operation that includes executing BIOS code to perform a Self Test Power On series of operations and thereafter initiating operating system software, determining an essentially unique identifier associated with said semiconductor device; generating a session identifier by reference to data related to said identifier, said session identifier being different each time the computer system is booted; and providing said session identifier to a software application or the operating system software.
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Specification