Patent ID: 7325130

Claim:
A method performed within a secure computational environment for writing application data to a data store that includes a hierarchical tree structure for storing primary items comprising the application data and control information and check items comprising the control information, the method comprising steps for: receiving a write instruction comprising the application data to be written; incrementing a timer responsive to receiving the write instruction; setting a timestamp to the value of the timer; computing a message authentication code for the received application data and the timestamp; appending the control information to the application data and its corresponding check item; the control information comprising the timestamp, a link to a check entry, and the message authentication code; writing the application data with the appended control information to the data store as a primary item; and updating the control information for each check item associated with the primary item along a path from the primary item to a root by following links, wherein updating the control information comprises updating at least two time stamps for each check item: a time stamp of the check entry referenced by a linked check item, and a time stamp of the check item.