Patent ID: 7308584
Filing Date: 2007-12-11
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for securing a removable operating system module, the method comprising: inserting the removable operating system module into a computer system, wherein the removable operating system module includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing a running image of an operating system; detecting, at the computer system, the insertion of the removable operating system module; in response to the detecting, loading the operating system; in response to the loading, executing the operating system using the processor located on the removable operating system module; receiving a request to remove the removable operating system module; in response to the receiving, saving a state of the operating system; in response to the saving, removing the removable operating system module from the computer system; in response to the removing, locking the removable operating system module, the locking resulting in a locked removable operating system module; inserting the locked removable operating system module into the computer system; in response to the inserting, authenticating a user attempting to use the locked removable operating system module; and unlocking the locked removable operating system module in response to authenticating the user.