Patent ID: 8613081
Filing Date: 2013-12-17
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a secure processor operable to execute first and second portions of software instructions, and further operable to generate a request to switch between a first context associated with the first portion of the software instructions and a second context, the second context associated with the second portion of the software instructions and a trust vector descriptor, wherein the first context specifies a first set of operations that the secure processor is allowed to perform and the second context specifies a second set of operations that the secure processor is allowed to perform, and wherein the first set of operations and the second set of operations define different secure operating environments; first discrete circuitry communicatively coupled to the secure processor that receives the request and that initiates a context switch between the first context and the second context, the second context associated with a context identifier; and second discrete circuitry communicatively coupled to the secure processor and the first discrete circuitry operable to mediate access between the secure processor and at least one resource associated with the secure processor based on the context identifier.