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SECURE COMMUNICATION USING A TRUSTED VIRTUAL MACHINE

  • US 20140053245A1
  • Filed: 08/20/2012
  • Published: 02/20/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A client computer system comprising at least a processor configured to operate:

  • an untrusted virtual machine including a set of drivers for controlling a first set of hardware devices of the client computer system, the first set of hardware devices comprising a network interface, the set of drivers including a network interface driver for the network interface; and

    a hypervisor configured to control a second set of hardware devices of the client computer system, the second set comprising a shared device selected from a group consisting of an output device and an input device, wherein the hypervisor is further configured to;

    in response to the untrusted virtual machine receiving a user request to connect to a remote server system, launch a trusted virtual machine distinct from the untrusted virtual machine, wherein launching the trusted virtual machine comprises;

    employing the hypervisor to determine the authenticity of an image of the trusted virtual machine; and

    when the image of the trusted virtual machine is authentic, employing the hypervisor to load the image into a memory of the client computer system;

    in response to launching the trusted virtual machine, receive a data unit from the trusted virtual machine, wherein the data unit is encrypted by the trusted virtual machine; and

    send the data unit to the network interface driver of the untrusted virtual machine for transmission to the remote server system through the network interface;

    and wherein the hypervisor is further configured to employ time-division multiplexing to alternate granting exclusive use of the shared device to the trusted virtual machine with granting exclusive use of the shared device to the untrusted virtual machine.

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