Method and system for protecting pervasive devices and servers from exchanging viruses

• US 7,086,090 B1
• Filed: 10/20/2000
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trend Micro Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Miller, Brent A., Singhal, Sandeep K., Dawson, Jr., Frank Robertson, Huang, Yen-Min
• Primary Examiner(s): REVAK, CHRISTOPHER A
• Application Number:
  US09/692,988
• Time in Patent Office: 2,111 Days
• Field of Search: 713/201, 713/188, 713/200, 714/38, 709/223, 709/224, 717168-178
• US Class Current: 726/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/562 Static detection

Abstract

A method and apparatus for preventing exchange of viruses. Preexisting content is maintained for a device in a first location. New content associated with the device is placed in a second location, wherein the new content is an update to the preexisting content. The preexisting content and the new content are combined in a third location to form merged content. A check for viruses is performed on the merged content prior to performing a transfer of the new content.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for preventing exchange of viruses with a device wirelessly coupled to the data processing system, the method comprising:

maintaining preexisting content for the device in a first location in the data processing system, the preexisting content being a duplicate copy of executable code maintained within the device and used by the device for internal operation of the device;

placing new content associated with the device in a second location, wherein the new content is an update to replace at least some of the preexisting content;

combining the preexisting content and the new content in a third location to form merged content;

performing a check for viruses on the merged content prior to performing a transfer of the new content; and

storing the merged content as the preexisting content that is maintained in the data processing system if a virus is absent from the merged content.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending the merged content to the device if a virus is absent from the merged content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data processing system receives the new content from the device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is one of a personal digital assistant and a wireless telephone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location is a hard disk drive in the data processing system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location is a hard disk drive in a storage system remote to the data processing system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the third location is a random access memory in the data processing system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of placing, maintaining, and performing are initiated in response to a synchronization process between the data processing system and the device.

9. A data processing system for preventing exchange of viruses with a device wirelessly coupled to the data processing system, comprising:

a bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to maintain preexisting content for a device in a first location in the data processing system, place new content associated with the device in a second location, wherein the new content is an update to replace at least some of the preexisting content, combine the preexisting content and the new content in a third location to form merged content, perform a check for viruses on the merged content, and store the merged content as the preexisting content that is maintained on the data processing system if a virus is absent from the merged content, wherein the preexisting content is a duplicate copy of executable code maintained within the device and used by the device for internal operation of the device.

10. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the bus system includes a primary bus and a secondary bus.

11. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the bus system comprises a single bus.

12. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the processing unit includes a plurality of processors.

13. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the processing unit includes a single processor.

14. A data processing system for preventing exchange of viruses with a device wirelessly coupled to the data processing system, the data processing system comprising:

maintaining means for maintaining preexisting content for the device in a first location in the data processing system, the preexisting content being a duplicate copy of executable code maintained within the device and used by the device for internal operation of the device;

placing means for placing new content associated with the device in a second location, wherein the new content is an update to replace at least some of the preexisting content;

combining means for combining the preexisting content and the new content in a third location to form merged content;

performing means for performing a check for viruses on the merged content prior to performing a transfer of the new content; and

storing means for storing the merged content as the preexisting content that is maintained in the data processing system if a virus is absent from the merged content.

15. The data processing system of claim 14 further comprising:

sending means for sending the merged content to the device if a virus is absent from the merged content.

16. The data processing system of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving means for receiving the new content from the device.

17. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the device is one of a personal digital assistant and a wireless telephone.

18. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the first location is a hard disk drive in the data processing system.

19. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the first location is a hard disk drive in a storage system remote to the data processing system.

20. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the third location is a random access memory in the data processing system.

21. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the steps of placing, maintaining, and performing are initiated in response to a synchronization process between the data processing system and the device.

22. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for use in a data processing system for preventing exchange of viruses with a device wirelessly coupled to the data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for maintaining preexisting content for the device in a first location in the data processing system, the preexisting content being a duplicate copy of executable code maintained within the device and used by the device for internal operation of the device;

second instructions for placing new content associated with the device in a second location, wherein the new content is an update to replace at least some of the preexisting content;

third instructions for combining the preexisting content and the new content in a third location to form merged content;

fourth instructions for performing a check for viruses on the merged content prior to performing a transfer of the new content; and

fifth instructions for storing the merged content as the preexisting content that is maintained in the data processing system if a virus is absent from the merged content.