Information system

• US 20020120862A1
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Proudler, Graeme John, Balacheff, Boris
• Granted Patent: US 8,218,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/57 Certifying or maintaining trusted computer platforms, e.g. secure boots or power-downs, version controls, system software checks, secure updates or assessing vulnerabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

A trusted service which publishes information describing security attributes of computing platforms in a defined physical area, for use by a visitor to a building, for example, who is unfamiliar with the computing platforms available for use therein. In a preferred embodiment, the system provides only details and/or a list of public keys of genuine trusted computing platforms within the area.

In another embodiment of the invention, the information system comprises a trusted computing platform for providing selected information to a user'"'"'s portable computing apparatus.

Claims

1. An information system comprising an information access point relating to at least one pre-determined geographical area, said information access point including apparatus for retrieving information relating to computing platforms located within said pre-determined geographical area, together with security attributes of said computing platforms, said information system being arranged to provide said information to a user upon request.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said information system is arranged to provide as said information only details and/or a list of public keys of genuine trusted computing platforms within said pre-determined geographical area.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said information access point comprises a trusted computing platform.

4. A system according to claim 1, comprising apparatus for communicating or interacting with a user'"'"'s portable computing apparatus.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said apparatus for communicating or interacting a user'"'"'s portable computing apparatus is arranged to perform said communication or interaction by physical contact or directional wireless communication.

6. A system according to claim 1, incorporating or accompanied by a declaration concerning the trustworthiness of the system.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said declaration is capable of interpretation by a user without preprocessing by an information processing system.

8. A system according to claim 1, arranged to verify the identity of a user.

9. A system according to claim 1, arranged to enable a user to perform operations, either locally or remotely, upon the information provided thereby.

10. An information system comprising a computing platform having a trusted component, apparatus for communicating with a user'"'"'s portable computing apparatus, said information system being arranged to geographically retrieve information relating to a pre-determined area and to communicate said information to said user'"'"'s portable computing apparatus upon request.