Patents by Inventor Andrew Halstead Mason

Andrew Halstead Mason 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).

  • Verification of trusted-path commands
    Patent number: 7036022
    Abstract: A method for executing trusted commands, in which a trusted command is first received from a user at a user terminal and parsed by untrusted code; then passed to a trusted computing base for execution. The trusted computing base displays some indication of what is to be done back to the user for confirmation. Confirmation of the commands prevents unauthorized modification of the commands and increases system confidence. A randomly (or pseudo-randomly) generated process identifier is employed to verify the existence of a trusted path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mary Ellen Zurko, Thomas Andrew Casey, Jr., Morrie Gasser, Judith Shelhorse Hall, Clifford Earl Kahn, Andrew Halstead Mason, Paul Douglas Sawyer, Leslie Richard Kendall, Steven B. Lipner
  • Processing trusted commands in trusted and untrusted environments
    Patent number: 6871283
    Abstract: A method for executing trusted commands, in which a trusted command is first received from a user at a user terminal and parsed by untrusted code; then passed to a trusted computing base for execution. The trusted computing base displays some indication of what is to be done back to the user for confirmation. Confirmation of the commands prevents unauthorized modification of the commands and increases system confidence. A randomly (or pseudo-randomly) generated process identifier is employed to verify the existence of a trusted path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mary Ellen Zurko, Thomas Andrew Casey, Jr., Morrie Gasser, Judith Shelhorse Hall, Clifford Earl Kahn, Andrew Halstead Mason, Paul Douglas Sawyer, Leslie Richard Kendall, Steven B. Lipner
  • Method for executing trusted-path commands
    Patent number: 6507909
    Abstract: A method for executing trusted commands, in which a trusted command is first received from a user at a user terminal and parsed by untrusted code; then passed to a trusted computing base for execution. The trusted computing base displays to the user for confirmation indication of what is to be done. Confirmation of the commands prevents unauthorized modification of the commands and increases system confidence. A randomly (or pseudo-randomly) generated process identifier is employed to verify the existence of a trusted path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Compaq Information Technologies Group, L.P.
    Inventors: Mary Ellen Zurko, Thomas Andrew Casey, Jr., Morrie Gasser, Judith Shelhorse Hall, Clifford Earl Kahn, Andrew Halstead Mason, Paul Douglas Sawyer, Leslie Richard Kendall, Steven B. Lipner
  • Skipping clock interrupts during system inactivity to reduce power consumption
    Patent number: 6161187
    Abstract: A method for reducing power consumption in a computer system is provided wherein the computer system includes a system bus interface connected by a signal line to a power supply and/or clock circuitry for the central processing unit, each having the capability to change the characteristic of its output responsive to the signal line for placing the central processing unit in a low-power consuming state. The system bus interface chip further including a storage location and counter for storing the type and quantity of interrupt assertions during the period of time when the central processing unit is in the low power consuming state.The system software determines the desired period of time to put the central processing unit into the low-power consuming safe and does not return it to normal power consuming state until the time period has expired, a non interval clock interrupt is asserted, or another critical event occurs that needs immediate CPU attention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Halstead Mason, James Jonathan Delmonico, Reinhard Christoph Schumann
  • Skipping clock interrupts during system inactivity to reduce power consumption
    Patent number: 5926640
    Abstract: A method for reducing power consumption in a computer system is provided wherein the computer system includes a system bus interface connected by a signal line to a power supply and/or clock circuitry for the central processing unit, each having the capability to change the characteristic of its output responsive to the signal line for placing the central processing unit in a low-power consuming state. The system bus interface chip further including a storage location and counter for storing the type and quantity of interrupt assertions during the period of time when the central processing unit is in the low power consuming state.The system software determines the desired period of time to put the central processing unit into the low-power consuming state and does not return it to normal power consuming state until the time period has expired, a non interval clock interrupt is asserted, or another critical event occurs that needs immediate CPU attention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Halstead Mason, James Jonathan Delmonico, Reinhard Christoph Schumann