Patent ID: 8020204

Claim:
A computer implemented method for migrating a virtual trusted platform module instance, the computer implemented method comprising: locking the virtual trusted platform module instance, wherein locking the virtual trusted platform module instance comprises freezing a state of a virtual trusted module instance, wherein once frozen, the virtual trusted module instance will no longer accept normal trusted platform module commands, but will only accept commands related to migrating the virtual trusted module, wherein the state of the virtual trusted platform module instance may be exported after the virtual trusted module instance has been locked and wherein the virtual trusted platform module instance cannot be unlocked once the virtual trusted platform module instance has been locked, 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.