Patent ID: 7788433

Claim:
An apparatus, for executing secure code within a secure execution environment, the apparatus comprising: a microprocessor, coupled to a secure non-volatile memory via a private bus and to a system memory via a system bus, configured to execute non-secure application programs and a secure application program, wherein said microprocessor accomplishes private bus transactions over said private bus to access said secure application program within said secure non-volatile memory, and wherein said private bus transactions are hidden from observation by system bus resources within said microprocessor and by any device coupled to said system bus, said microprocessor comprising: normal interrupt logic, configured to provide for a plurality of non-secure interrupts for interrupting said non-secure application programs when said microprocessor is operating in a non-secure mode; and secure execution mode interrupt logic, configured to provide for a plurality of secure interrupts when said microprocessor is operating in a secure mode, wherein said secure execution mode interrupt logic cannot be observed or accessed by said system bus resources or said non-secure application programs.