Patent ID: 7036023
Filing Date: 2006-04-25
Classification: G06F,H04N

Abstract:
1. In a computer system with a processing device coupled to a memory device through a bus and a boot signature checker that is separate from the processing device, the computer system configured to be capable of receiving presentable content, a method of detecting tampering of the computer system, the method comprising the following: a specific act of booting up the computer system; a specific act of the boot signature checker monitoring a signal sequence that occurs on the computer system bus coupling the processing device and memory device during the specific act of booting up the computer system; a specific act of the boot signature checker calculating a boot signature from the monitored signal sequence; a specific act of comparing the calculated boot signature to an expected boot signature that represents no tampering to the computer system; and a specific act of determining that tampering has not occurred if the calculated boot signature is the same as the expected boot signature.