Patent ID: 8356347

Claim:
A computer implemented method for migrating a virtual trusted platform module instance, the computer implemented method comprising: locking a child virtual trusted platform module instance on a destination platform, wherein locking the child virtual trusted platform module instance comprises freezing a state of the child virtual trusted platform module instance, wherein once frozen, the child virtual trusted platform module instance will no longer accept normal trusted platform module commands, but will only accept commands related to migrating the virtual trusted platform module, wherein a state of the virtual trusted platform module is imported after the child virtual trusted platform module instance on the destination platform has been locked and wherein the child virtual trusted platform module instance on the destination platform cannot be unlocked unless all the state of the virtual trusted platform module has been imported; exporting the state of the virtual trusted platform module instance through a parent virtual trusted platform module instance on a source platform, wherein the parent virtual trusted platform module instance on the source platform has control over a life-cycle of the virtual trusted platform module instance on the source platform; and importing the state of the virtual trusted platform module instance through a parent virtual trusted platform module instance on a destination platform, wherein the parent virtual trusted platform module instance on the destination platform has control over a life-cycle of the virtual trusted platform module instance on the destination platform.