Patent ID: 8578161
Filing Date: 2013-11-05
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a storage device to embed on a hardware platform of a computing device, the storage device to store a public key, where the public key authenticates multiple different corresponding private keys; and hardware components to receive a signed message from a peripheral of the computing device, the signed message signed with a private key of the peripheral; authenticate the signed message with the public key, including identifying the peripheral based on the authenticating; identify characteristics of the peripheral and features available for the peripheral to provide functionality to the hardware platform, including determining to authorize the peripheral including providing an interface with bus number, device number, and function (BDF) that permits use of at least a restricted subset of available features when authenticating the signed message and identifying characteristics of the peripheral are unsuccessful and including providing an interface with the BDF that permits use of all available features when authenticating the signed message and identifying the peripheral are successful; and authorize the peripheral for the determined features based on the identifying.