Computer system security method and apparatus having program authorization information data structures
INFORMATION PROTECTION AND AUTHENTICATION OF TEXAS, LLCThe holder of the '717 patent has sued Microsoft, Symantec, CA, F-Secure, McAfee, Kaspersky, Sophos, Novell, and PC Tools for infringing this patent.
Last updated: about 1 year ago
Summary / Description
| Summary / Description | It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a hierarchical security mechanism which allows an object programmer to establish quite arbitrarily a security level for the primary program as well as any sub-applications or called programs. |
Basic Information
| Type of Prior Art | Issued Patents - US |
| Country | United States of America |
| Patent/Application # | 4104721 |
| Kind Code | United States (US) - United STATES Patent - A |
| Patentee Name | International Business Machines Corporation |
| Relevant Pages, Columns, or Lines | col. 6, ln 26-40 |
| URL | http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/... |
| Publication Date | December 30, 1978 |
| Additional Information | The publication date given is actually the filing date. |
Notes / To Do
| Notes | |
Excerpt
The present invention permits selective access to sensitive data, by requiring that a clearance validation be passed for each access to memory. In contrast to other memory protection mechanisms, this invention enables the fineness of control to be as small as the fetch width of the storage medium. Usually a large memory block, consisting of 1000 bytes or more is controlled as a unit; either all words of the block are accessible or none are, in previous protection mechanisms. In addition, an application, constrained to certain areas of memory can itself control sub-applications and use the same protection mechanism to constrain a sub-application's ability to access the main application's memory. Hence, a hierarchy of access controls can be established.
Relevance
Claims
Claim 120
In a digital computer system having digital data processing means for executing a plurality of digital computer programs for a computer user and memory means for storing digital program instructions and digital data, a method for providing improved computer security comprising the steps of:
a) storing digital authorization information in said memory means which restricts an associated program from accessing resources when executed by said digital data processing means which are accessible to said computer user; and
b) storing in at least one segment, digital data for associating said authorization information with at least one program to be executed by said processing means for said computer user.
Relevance
a) storing digital authorization information in said memory means which restricts an associated program from accessing resources when executed by said digital data processing means which are accessible to said computer user
a) storing digital authorization information in said memory means which restricts an associated program from accessing resources when executed by said digital data processing means which are accessible to said computer user
Claim Chart
All
Claim 61
In a digital computer system for providing improved computer security having digital data processing means for executing a plurality of digital computer programs for a computer user and memory means for storing digital program instructions and digital data, apparatus for protecting a digital computer user from operations typically performable by a digital computer program executing on behalf of a user comprising:
a) means for storing digital authorization information in said memory means which restricts an associated program from performing operations, when executed by said processing means, which are available to said computer user; and
b) means for storing in at least one segment digital data for associating said authorization information with at least one program to be executed by said processing means.
Relevance
a) means for storing digital authorization information in said memory means which restricts an associated program from performing operations, when executed by said processing means, which are available to said computer user;
a) means for storing digital authorization information in said memory means which restricts an associated program from performing operations, when executed by said processing means, which are available to said computer user;
Claim Chart
All
Claim 1
In a digital computer system having a digital data processing means for executing a plurality of digital programs and a memory means for storing digital program instructions and digital data, apparatus for protecting a digital computer user from operations typically performable by a digital computer program executing on behalf of a user comprising:
a) means for storing a plurality of digital authorization entries in said memory means, wherein said entries qualify operations which an associated program is permitted to perform when executed by said processing means; and
b) means for storing in at least one segment, digital data for associating said authorization entries with at least one program.
Relevance
a) means for storing a plurality of digital authorization entries in said memory means, wherein said entries qualify operations which an associated program is permitted to perform when executed by said processing means;
a) means for storing a plurality of digital authorization entries in said memory means, wherein said entries qualify operations which an associated program is permitted to perform when executed by said processing means;
Claim Chart
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