Patents by Inventor Paul D. Cozza

Paul D. Cozza has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and apparatus for detecting computer viruses through the use of a scan information cache
    Patent number: 5649095
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for scanning files for computer viruses which use the length of at least one portion (such as a fork) of a file. This length information is stored in a cache. During a scan, the then current size of the file portion is compared to the length stored in the cache and if there is a size difference, the file is then scanned for viruses which can change that portion of the file's size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Inventor: Paul D. Cozza
  • Method and apparatus for increasing the speed at which computer viruses are detected
    Patent number: 5502815
    Abstract: The method and apparatus for increasing the speed at which computer viruses are detected stores initial state information concerning the file or volume which is being examined for a virus. This information is stored in a cache in a non-volatile storage medium and when files are subsequently scanned for viruses, the current state information is compared to the initial state information stored in the cache. If the initial state information differs from the current state information then the file or volume is scanned for viruses which change the state information of the file or volume. If the initial state information and current state information is the same then the file or volume is scanned for a subset of viruses which do not change the state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Inventor: Paul D. Cozza
  • Method and apparatus for increasing the speed of the detecting of computer viruses
    Patent number: 5473769
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the speed at which a computer can scan files for computer viruses examines the initial state information of each file and stores this state information in a cache. Since viruses generally add themselves to preexisting files, they generally change the lengths or other characteristics of the files. During a scan, current state information is gathered regarding the length and/or other characteristics of the current state of the file and this information is compared to the length and characteristics from the initial state of the file. If the initial state information is different than the current state information then the files are scanned for certain subsets of viruses which affect files in a manner which is determined by the differences in such initial and current state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Inventor: Paul D. Cozza