Processor unique processor number feature with a user controllable disable capability

• US 6,289,459 B1
• Filed: 01/20/1999
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Sullivan, Robert R., Pollack, Frederick J., Thakkar, Shreekant S., Fischer, Stephen A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoleil, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bonzo, Bryce P.
• Application Number:
  US09/235,054
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 713/200, 713/201, 713/202
• US Class Current: 726/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/006 Identification G06F11/2289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/101 by binding digital rights to specific entities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/73 by creating or determining hardware identification, e.g. serial numbers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2207/7219 Countermeasures against side channel or fault attacks

Abstract

A software method of setting a state in a processor regarding whether a processor number encoded in the processor will be available for reading is described. The method comprises prompting the user to enter an indication whether the processor number should be available for reading by a program. Then, setting a state to inhibit the processor number from being read by a program if the indication indicates that the processor number should not be available for reading by the program. For one embodiment, the method further includes testing the indication if a request for the processor number is received, and releasing the processor number if the indication indicates that the processor number is available.

Claims

1. A software method of selectively releasing a processor number encoded in a processor, the method comprising:

determining if the processor number is available to a first type of query; and

displaying the processor number in response to the query if a display decision controllable by a user is set to display the processor number;

wherein the user is provided control over whether or not to release the processor number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the display decision is sticky, such that the display decision is only changed by an active intervention by the user.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

permitting the user to alter the display decision at boot-up only.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying comprises making the processor number available to software applications.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the display decision may be dependent upon an identity of a requester.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the display decision comprises a plurality of levels of access based on a location of the requester.

7. A method comprising:

receiving a request for a processor number;

querying a preference set in the processor to reveal or not reveal the processor number, the preference set by the a user; and

transmitting the processor number if the preference states that the processor number may be revealed.

8. A software method of setting a state in a processor regarding whether a processor number encoded in the processor will be available for reading, the method comprising:

permitting the user to enter an indication whether the processor number should be available for reading by a program; and

setting a state to inhibit the processor number from being read by a program if the indication indicates that the processor number should not be available for reading by the program.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the software that prompts the user is part of the boot-up software of the processor.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the software that prompts the user is an application that runs on top of an operating system that runs on the processor.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the software that permits the user to change the state is available only upon booting of the processor.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the state setting the preference of the user is sticky, such that the state is only changed by an active intervention by the user.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the availability of the processor number is dependent upon an identity of a requester.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the state indicates a plurality of levels of access based on a location of the requester.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein displaying comprises making the processor number available to software applications.

16. A machine readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions, which when executed by a computer system, cause said computer system to perform the steps of:

permitting the user to enter an indication whether the processor number should be available for reading by a program; and

setting a state to inhibit the processor number from being read by a program if the indication indicates that the processor number should not be available for reading by the program.

17. The machine readable medium of claim 16, wherein the state setting the preference of the user is sticky, such that the state is only changed by an active intervention by the user.

18. The machine readable medium of claim 16, wherein the software that permits the user to change the state is available only upon booting of the processor.

19. The machine readable medium of claim 16, wherein the display decision may be dependent upon an identity of a requester.

20. The machine readable medium of claim 19, wherein the state indicates a plurality of levels of access based on a location of the requester.