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Managing a secure platform using a hierarchical executive architecture in isolated execution mode

  • US 6,941,458 B1
  • Filed: 09/22/2000
  • Issued: 09/06/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:

  • in a platform with a processor and a memory, configuring the processor to run in an isolated execution mode within a ring 0 operating mode, wherein the processor also supports one or more higher ring operating modes, as well as a non-isolated execution mode within at least the ring 0 operating mode;

    configuring the platform to establish an isolated memory area in the memory and a non-isolated memory area in the memory, wherein the platform does not allow access to the isolated memory area if the processor is not in the isolated execution mode;

    executing a processor executive on the processor, with the processor running in the isolated execution mode;

    loading an operating system (OS) executive into the isolated memory area, the OS executive to manage at least a subset of an OS to run on the platform;

    verifying the OS executive, using the processor executive; and

    after verifying the OS executive, launching the OS executive, the launching of the OS executive performed by the processor executive.

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