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Anti-virus scanning co-processor

  • US 7,673,343 B1
  • Filed: 07/26/2001
  • Issued: 03/02/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for scanning data, comprising:

  • a) executing scanning control logic utilizing a central processing unit;

    b) identifying a request related to data at the central processing unit;

    c) indicating a location of the data to a scanning co-processor coupled to the central processing unit so that the data is scanned by the scanning co-processor under the control of the scanning control logic for offloading scanning operations from the central processing unit;

    d) waiting for results from the scanning co-processor;

    e) executing additional logic utilizing the central processing unit while waiting for the results from the scanning co-processor; and

    f) initiating an event based on the results from the scanning co-processor;

    wherein the scanning co-processor is under the control of the central processing unit via the execution of the scanning control logic by the central processing unit;

    wherein it is determined whether the data meets a predetermined criteria, where the criteria is based on a type of a file associated with the data;

    wherein the data is sent to the scanning co-processor if it is determined that the data meets the predetermined criteria;

    wherein additional data to be scanned by the scanning co-processor is queued while waiting for the results from the scanning co-processor;

    wherein the scanning co-processor is capable of performing an additional scan on the additional data while scanning the data;

    wherein the location of the data indicated to the scanning co-processor includes a memory location of the data stored in memory, where the memory is separate from and coupled to the scanning co-processor and the central processing unit via a bus that employs direct memory access.

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