Patent ID: 7926097

Claim:
A computer that is configured for a connection to a network of computers including the Internet, comprising: a microchip including a microprocessor, the microprocessor including a master control unit that is configured using hardware, and at least two processing units, which are separate from any specialized processors; and the master control unit of the microprocessor being further configured to allow a user of the computer to control the processing units of the microprocessor; an internal hardware firewall that is separate from and located between the master control unit and at least a first one of the processing units of the microprocessor; and the internal hardware firewall defining a portion of the microchip that is protected by the internal hardware firewall and a portion of the microchip that is unprotected by the internal hardware firewall; said protected portion of the microchip including at least said master control unit of the microprocessor and at least a second one of the processing units of the microprocessor, said unprotected portion of the microchip including at least the first one of the processing units of the microprocessor; said hardware firewall is configured to deny access to said protected portion of the microchip by a network of computers including the Internet when the computer is connected to the network of computers including the Internet; and said hardware firewall is further configured to permit access by the network of computers including the Internet to at least the first one of the processing units included in the unprotected portion of the microchip when the computer is connected to the network of computers including the Internet.