Patent ID: 8793803

Claim:
An apparatus providing for a secure execution environment, comprising: a microprocessor, mounted to a motherboard, that executes non-secure application programs and a secure application program, said microprocessor comprising: secure execution mode logic, that detects execution of a secure execution mode return event, and that terminates a secure execution mode within said microprocessor, wherein said secure execution mode exclusively supports execution of said secure application program; a system memory, mounted to said motherboard and coupled to said microprocessor via a system bus, said system memory having said non-secure application programs stored therein, wherein said system memory transfers said non-secure application programs to said microprocessor; and a secure non-volatile memory, coupled to said microprocessor via a private bus, that stores said secure application program prior to termination of said secure execution mode, wherein transactions over said private bus between said microprocessor and said secure non-volatile memory are isolated from said system bus and corresponding system bus resources within said microprocessor.