Patent ID: 7013484
Filing Date: 2006-03-14
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A processing system comprising: a processor to support an isolated execution mode, a normal execution mode, a first privilege ring within the normal execution mode for use by an operating system (OS) kernel, and a second privilege ring within the normal execution mode for use by a software application; a memory responsive to the processor, the memory to include an isolated memory area, the isolated memory area to be inaccessible to the processor in the normal execution mode; a chipset responsive to the processor, the chipset to support the normal execution mode and the isolated execution mode; processor executive (PE) handler storage in the chipset to store at least part of a PE handler, the PE handler to be loaded into the isolated memory area during a boot process for the processing system after at least a portion of the processing system is initialized, the PE handler to manage, from the isolated execution mode, at least one subsequent operation in the boot process.