Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Bernard D Desselle

Mark A Piwonka

Christoph J Graham

Luke Mulcahy

Louis B Hobson

Paul J Broyles

Jose Sancho-Dominguez

David J DeLisle

A computer may comprise a processor and first storage device coupled to the processor. The first storage device contains a basic input/output system (BIOS) executable by the processor. The system may also comprise a second storage device coupled to the processor. The second storage device may contain a management interface usable by an operating system to access the BIOS. A plurality of interface files may also be provided, each interface file being usable by the management interface to access the BIOS and each interface file defining one or methods for use by the interface or BIOS. Upon execution of the BIOS, the processor is to determine a configuration of the system and, based on the determined configuration, to select a particular interface file for use during run-time.

Plurality of interface files usable for access to BIOS

A system may comprise a processor () and first storage device () coupled to the processor. The first storage device contains a basic input/output system (BIOS) () executable by the processor. The system may also comprise a second storage device () coupled to the processor. The second storage device may contain a management interface () usable by an operating system to access the BIOS. A plurality of interface foes () may also be provided, each interface file being usable by the management interface to access the BIOS and each interface file defining one or methods for use by the interface or BIOS. While executing the BIOS, the processor determines a configuration of the system and, based on the determined configuration, selects a particular interface file for use during run-time.

Systems and methods of clearing system resources are disclosed. One example method includes the step of detecting a failure to clear a secure portion of a system resource in a device. The method also includes the step of powering off the system resource for a period of power-off time that is sufficient to clear data from the system resource, where the power off is responsive to the failure detection. The method also includes the step of unlocking the secure portion of the system resource, where the unlock is responsive to the period of power-off time having elapsed.

Clearing secure system resources in a computing device

Systems and methods of determining a trust level from system management mode are disclosed. One such method includes: responsive to a system management mode interrupt (SMI), determining a trust level associated with code invoking the SMI; and responsive to determining that the trust level is untrusted, granting or denying a request made by the code invoking the SMI based at least in part on a type of the request.

Systems and methods of determining a trust level from system management mode

A method for modifying one or more system resources is provided. One or more licenses for modifying one or more system resources on a client device can be acquired. An authenticator can be generated and stored on a remote server. The authenticator can be transferred to the client device. The client device can be connected to the remote server and the remote server can authenticate the client device via the authenticator. The remote server can confirm the availability of one or more licenses, and based on the availability of one or more licenses, modify one or more system resources disposed in, on, or about the client device. After modifying the one or more system resources the remote server can decrement the remaining license count.

Systems and methods of modifying system resources

A BIOS password security technique includes first logic operable to extract a down scan code from a keyboard input queue, the down scan code having a most significant bit; second logic operable to examine case-related auxiliary information; and third logic operable to set the state of the most significant bit responsive to the case-related auxiliary information, thereby creating a modified scan code.

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Spring, TX, United States of America

Bernard D Desselle