The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 11, 2009
Filed:
Sep. 30, 2004
Bryan Mark Willman, Kirkland, WA (US);
Christine M. Chew, Redmond, WA (US);
Paul C. Roberts, Kirkland, WA (US);
David Rudolph Wooten, Redmond, WA (US);
John E. Paff, Redmond, WA (US);
Bryan Mark Willman, Kirkland, WA (US);
Christine M. Chew, Redmond, WA (US);
Paul C. Roberts, Kirkland, WA (US);
David Rudolph Wooten, Redmond, WA (US);
John E. Paff, Redmond, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
A security device watches over the secure functionality in a computer system. This 'watcher' security device may be integrated within the computer system or may be separate from it. The security device queries the secure functionality to determine whether the state of the secure functionality is acceptable. If no satisfactory state exists, or if no response is received, then a signal is transmitted. The signal may be auditory (a buzzer) or visual (a flashing light) in order to signal to any user that the secure functionality has been compromised. Optionally, human input devices may be disabled, or a monitoring service notified, in conjunction with or in lieu of the signal. If the secure functionality includes a secret shared between the secure functionality and the user, then the security device may signal the secret. For example, where the secret is visual, the security device may display the secret. Where there is more than one element of secure functionality in the computer system, the security device may separately watch and report on more than one element of secure functionality. The security device may also display status information regarding the computer system. Some or all of the security device may be distributed via a trusted distribution infrastructure.