Patent ID: 8225003

Claim:
A microchip for a personal computer configured for a connection to a network of computers, said microchip comprising: a master control unit that is configured to control the personal computer, said master control unit including at least a non-volatile memory; an internal hardware firewall that is both located between and separate from a protected portion of hardware of the microchip and an unprotected portion of hardware of the microchip; said protected hardware portion of the microchip not being connected to said network of computers and including at least said master control unit with said non-volatile memory, said unprotected hardware portion of the microchip being located between said internal hardware firewall and said network of computers and including one or more microprocessors and at least a volatile memory, said unprotected microprocessors with said volatile memory being separate from said internal hardware firewall, and said unprotected hardware portion being connected to said network of computers; said internal hardware firewall denying access by said network to said protected hardware portion of the microchip; and said internal hardware firewall permitting unrestricted access by the network to the unprotected hardware portion of the microchip, so that operations conducted by the microchip with the network are conducted in said unprotected hardware portion using said one or more unprotected microprocessors of the microchip.