Lexmark International, Inc.

Mike Partington

James Ronald Booth

William Pohl Corbett, Jr

John Francis Gostomski

John Francis Gestomski

Methods for authenticating firmware in a computing device include partitioning functions critical to the intended role of the computing device so that, upon successful authentication of the firmware, all functions of the device are made operational. Otherwise, the computing device behaves in a diagnostic mode of operation to assist users in troubleshooting to eventually authenticate firmware. At least first and second sets of firmware are loaded at various times into a controller of the computing device with the first set occurring without verification of trustworthiness, while the second set occurs upon authentication of the first. The second is used to authenticate a remainder set of firmware. Particular computing devices contemplate laser printers, mobile phones, PDA's, gaming consoles, etc. Firmware downloads, error messaging, hash comparisons, signature table construction, page-in techniques, computer program products, and particular computing arrangements are other noteworthy features, to name a few.

Dual boot strategy to authenticate firmware in a computing device

A boot validation system and method may be used in a computer system to validate boot code before allowing the computer system to execute the boot code. In particular, a secure hash algorithm may be used to compute a hash value of the boot code and the computed hash value may be compared to a preprogrammed hash value stored in a secure non-volatile device. If the hash values match the boot code may be validated and the system may then be allowed to execute the boot code. Once the boot code is validated, the boot code may be executed to validate other code (e.g., firmware) in the computer system. In an exemplary embodiment, the boot validation systems and method may be used in an imaging device, such as a printer.

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Lexington, KY, United States of America

Mike Partington