BIOS PROTECTION DEVICE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A processing system comprising.a central processor;
- a BIOS memory device storing a boot program;
a BIOS protection device;
a plurality of memory address and data paths to provide communication between at least the processor, BIOS memory device and BIOS protection device;
said BIOS protection device configured to verify the boot program and control the memory address and data paths and prevent execution of the boot program until said verification.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A boot program held in a BIOS memory device of a processing system is authenticated. At system start-up, a BIOS protection device temporarily prevents execution of the boot program by the central processor of the processing system by control of address and data paths. The BIOS protection device interrogates the contents of the BIOS memory device to establish authentication. If the contents of the BIOS memory device are not authentic, execution of the boot program is prevented.
22 Citations
35 Claims
-
1. A processing system comprising.
a central processor; -
a BIOS memory device storing a boot program; a BIOS protection device; a plurality of memory address and data paths to provide communication between at least the processor, BIOS memory device and BIOS protection device;
said BIOS protection device configured to verify the boot program and control the memory address and data paths and prevent execution of the boot program until said verification. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 30, 31)
-
-
7. (canceled)
-
13. A method of authenticating a boot program held in a BIOS memory device of a processing system comprising a central processor, the BIOS memory device and a BIOS protection device interconnected by address and data paths, the method comprising:
-
1) at start-up, the BIOS protection device temporarily prevents execution of the boot program by the central processor; 2) the BIOS protection device takes control of the address and data paths; 3) the BIOS protection device interrogates the contents of the BIOS memory device to establish if the contents are authenticated; 4) if the contents of the BIOS memory device are not authentic, the BIOS protection device continues to prevent execution of the boot program and prevents further operation of the central processor; and 5) if the contents of the BIOS memory device are authentic, the BIOS protection device relinquishes control of the address and data paths and allows the central processor to execute the boot program in the BIOS memory device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
18. (canceled)
- 24. A BIOS protection device for connection to a processing system between a central processor and a BIOS memory device containing a boot program, the BIOS protection device including address and data path interface connections, and an authentication processor whereby, when power is applied to the BIOS protection device, the BIOS protection device takes control of address and data path(s) to which it is connected and the authentication processor interrogates the BIOS memory device connected to the address and data path(s) to determine if the boot program contained in the BIOS memory device is authentic, and only if the boot program is determined to be authentic does the BIOS protection device release control of the address and data path(s) to permit the central processor to execute the boot program.
-
29. (canceled)
- 32. The device as claimed in 31 wherein the BIOS protection device will hold the reset signal in the reset (or, disabled) state while the authentication of the BIOS is performed.
-
35. A processing system comprising a processor connected to a BIOS memory device containing a boot program through a connection path, wherein a BIOS protection device forms part of the connection path, the BIOS protection device operable to check the authenticity of the boot program and allow the processor to execute the boot program only if the check of the boot program indicates that it is authentic
Specification