摘要:
An electronic device, such as, a computer, may be adapted for self-monitoring for compliance to an operating policy. The operating policy may specify a pay-per-use or subscription business model and measurements associated with compliant usage. A secure execution environment may measure usage in accordance with the business model as well as monitor and enforce compliance to the operating policy. To increase the difficulty of attacking or otherwise disabling the secure execution environment, elements of the secure execution environment may be distributed. The distribution points may include other functional elements of the computer, such as interface circuits, or may even be remotely located over a network. An implementation method for disaggregating the secure execution environment is also disclosed.
摘要:
An electronic device, such as, a computer, may be adapted for self-monitoring for compliance to an operating policy. The operating policy may specify a pay-per-use or subscription business model and measurements associated with compliant usage. A secure execution environment may measure usage in accordance with the business model as well as monitor and enforce compliance to the operating policy. To increase the difficulty of attacking or otherwise disabling the secure execution environment, elements of the secure execution environment may be distributed. The distribution points may include other functional elements of the computer, such as interface circuits, or may even be remotely located over a network. An implementation method for disaggregating the secure execution environment is also disclosed.
摘要:
Described is a technology by which a computing device is booted into a normal mode of operation or a limited mode of operation, depending on whether the computing device was operating correctly (e.g., with respect to policy) prior to a reboot. The reboot may be forced. Examples of incorrect state include an overdue payment on a leased computer, or improper execution of certain important software. A metering mechanism evaluates the state of the computing device, and when an incorrect state is detected, configures the computing device for operation in the limited mode, by setting the computing device to boot via one boot path (e.g., a limited-mode BIOS) instead of another boot path (e.g., a normal-mode BIOS). A BIOS selector switches to the limited BIOS on the next reboot, wherein the computing device is restricted to the limited mode of operation (regardless of subsequent reboots) until the correct state is restored.
摘要:
A virtual machine monitor provides a trusted operating environment for a software usage metering application when a qualified virtual machine monitor is loaded as part of trusted boot and when all other programs and operating systems run in containers managed by the virtual machine monitor. The virtual machine monitor may also host a locking application for limiting the functionality of the computer if contractual terms of use are not met. Both the metering and locking applications run at a higher privilege level than ring 0, at the same level as the virtual machine monitor.
摘要:
A virtual machine monitor provides a trusted operating environment for a software usage metering application when a qualified virtual machine monitor is loaded as part of trusted boot and when all other programs and operating systems run in containers managed by the virtual machine monitor. The virtual machine monitor may also host a locking application for limiting the functionality of the computer if contractual terms of use are not met. Both the metering and locking applications run at a higher privilege level than ring 0, at the same level as the virtual machine monitor.
摘要:
To enforce contractual usage terms on an electronic device, such as a computer, a security function or circuit may consume all the devices processing power except enough to run a restoration program. The security function may provide problems or challenges for the processor to solve that are designed to consume all but a fraction of the processors compute power. Another embodiment occupies nearly all the device's system memory with a pattern and requires the device to respond to requests related to the memory contents. Both approaches place time limits on the response to help ensure the resource allocations are not being avoided. The security circuit may reset the computer when an incorrect or when no response is received within the time limit.
摘要:
A computer is modified to add a memory management module between a memory controller and memory. The module may control or intercept signals between the memory controller and the memory to disable a portion or all of the computer's normal function. The memory management module may be a discrete device or may be part of the memory controller itself.
摘要:
Techniques are described which provide an independent computation environment. The independent computation environment is contained at least in part in a set of one or more hardware components and configured to host a provisioning module that is executable to provision functionality of the computing device according to a wide variety of factors. In an implementation, when the provisioning module determines that particular functionality is referenced in an inclusion list, the computing device is permitted to access the particular functionality. When the provisioning module determines that the particular functionality is referenced in an exclusion list, the computing device is prevented from accessing the particular functionality.
摘要:
A computer or other electronic device requiring physical integrity of its components, for example, a pay-per-use computer may use a master security device in communication with a plurality of slave security devices, known as security beans. Each security bean may be given a cryptographic key or keys for use in authenticating communication with the master security device. Each security bean may be coupled to an associated component and may have the ability to disable that associated component. In one embodiment, security bean has an analog switch that may be configured to block or attenuate a critical signal used by the associated component. The security bean may start up in the disable mode and respond to a verified signal from the master security device to enable its corresponding component.
摘要:
A computer or other electronic device requiring physical integrity of its components, for example, a pay-per-use computer may use a master security device in communication with a plurality of slave security devices, known as security beans. Each security bean may be given a cryptographic key or keys for use in authenticating communication with the master security device. Each security bean may be coupled to an associated component and may have the ability to disable that associated component. In one embodiment, security bean has an analog switch that may be configured to block or attenuate a critical signal used by the associated component. The security bean may start up in the disable mode and respond to a verified signal from the master security device to enable its corresponding component.