US Patent 7971243 Security module

A method and apparatus for restricting access of an application to computer hardware. The apparatus includes both an authentication module and a validation module. The authentication module is within the trusted firmware layer. The purpose of the authentication module is to verify a cryptographic key presented by an application. The validation module is responsive to the authentication module and limits access of the application to the computer hardware. The authentication modules may be implemented in software through a firmware call, or through a hardware register of the computer.