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MicrosoftGranted patentSecurity & privacyInterest 4/10

Microsoft patents firmware method for securely switching device ownership

This patent describes a system that uses a microcontroller to manage how a device starts up based on who currently owns it. It checks a stored counter and a specific flag to decide whether to boot for the original owner, transfer control to a new user, or revoke access.

Why it mattersThis is interesting for IT managers and security engineers who need to ensure that devices are properly wiped or handed over when they change hands, such as in corporate fleets or resale markets.

In the filing’s own words

A system includes a stored counter value and a stored boot manifest including a manifest type flag. A manifest type of the boot manifest is determined based on the manifest type flag, a tenancy mode is determined based on a parity of the counter value, a first boot is executed if the manifest type is a first manifest type and the tenancy mode is a first tenancy mode, a second boot flow is executed if the manifest type is the first manifest type and the tenancy mode is a second tenancy mode, a third boot flow is executed if the manifest type is a second manifest type and the tenancy mode is the first tenancy mode, and a fourth boot flow is executed if the manifest type is the second manifest type and the tenancy mode is the second tenancy mode.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A system comprising: a first storage device storing a boot manifest, the boot manifest comprising a manifest type flag; a second storage device storing a counter value; and a microcontroller in communication with the first storage device and the second storage device, the microcontroller to: determine a manifest type of the boot manifest based on the manifest type flag; determine a tenancy mode based on a parity of the counter value; and based on the manifest type and the tenancy mode, executing one of a first boot flow for an owner secure boot flow, a second boot flow for a tenancy transfer boot flow, a third boot flow for a tenant secure boot flow, or a fourth boot flow for a tenancy revocation boot flow.

Facts

Company
Microsoft (Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC)
Official title
Firmware-based secure tenancy transfer
Patent number
US12737469B2
Application number
18614183
Filed
Mar 22, 2024
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Inventors
2
Claims
20

Classified under

G06F 21/575 Physics & computingH04L 9/30 Electricity & electronicsH04L 9/3236 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.