Patent ID: 7774616
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method, in a data processing system having a boot processor and a plurality of non-boot processors, for masking execution of a boot code sequence in the data processing system, comprising: executing the boot code sequence on the boot processor to thereby boot the data processing system to an operational state; executing a first masking code sequence on at least one first non-boot processor, of the plurality of non-boot processors, to thereby generate at least one first set of electromagnetic or thermal signatures that approximate an electromagnetic or thermal signature of the execution of the boot code sequence on the boot processor, thereby masking the execution of the boot code sequence on the boot processor; executing a second masking code sequence on a second non-boot processor, of the plurality of non-boot processors, to thereby generate at least one second set of electromagnetic or thermal signatures that are different from the electromagnetic or thermal signature of the execution of the boot code sequence on the boot processor, thereby making the second non-boot processor appear to be the boot processor; and randomly selecting the second non-boot processor from the plurality of non-boot processors, wherein the at least one first non-boot processor is all non-boot processors of the plurality of non-boot processors that were not randomly selected to be the second non-boot processor and wherein the second non-boot processor is randomly selected from the plurality of non-boot processors with each power-on reset operation of the data processing system.