Patent ID: 7836309
Filing Date: 2010-11-16
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. One or more computer storage media embodying computer-useable instructions for performing a method of facilitating communication between a pre-operating system (OS) application and one of a plurality cryptographic device drivers associated with a plurality of cryptographic devices available to the pre-OS application using a generic cryptographic device protocol to thereby enable one or more cryptographic functions to be performed for the pre-OS application by one of the cryptographic devices, the method comprising: requesting, by the pre-OS application via the generic cryptographic device protocol, a unique driver identifier for each of the plurality of cryptographic device drivers; receiving, by the pre-OS application via the generic cryptographic device protocol, the unique device identifier for each of the plurality of cryptographic device drivers; selecting, by the pre-OS application via the generic cryptographic device protocol, one of the cryptographic device drivers based on a corresponding unique driver identifier; requesting and receiving, by the pre-OS application via the generic cryptographic device protocol, a unique key identifier for each of one or more keys available to the selected cryptographic device driver; selecting, by the pre-OS application via the generic cryptographic device protocol, one of the one or more keys based on a corresponding unique key identifier; and causing the one or more cryptographic functions to be performed by a cryptographic device associated with the selected cryptographic device driver using the selected key.