Microsoft technology licensing, llc (20240346152). LIMITING A NUMBER OF ILLEGITIMATE INTERRUPTS FROM SWITCHING A CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT TO A SYSTEM MANAGEMENT MODE simplified abstract

LIMITING A NUMBER OF ILLEGITIMATE INTERRUPTS FROM SWITCHING A CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT TO A SYSTEM MANAGEMENT MODE

Organization Name

microsoft technology licensing, llc

Inventor(s)

Mallik Bulusu of Bellevue WA (US)

Muhammad A. Ahmed of Seattle WA (US)

Ganesh Kumar A of Hyderabad (IN)

Kiran Bangalore Sathyanarayana of Bangalore (IN)

Pingfan Song of Redmond WA (US)

LIMITING A NUMBER OF ILLEGITIMATE INTERRUPTS FROM SWITCHING A CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT TO A SYSTEM MANAGEMENT MODE - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240346152 titled 'LIMITING A NUMBER OF ILLEGITIMATE INTERRUPTS FROM SWITCHING A CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT TO A SYSTEM MANAGEMENT MODE

The abstract describes a system that limits the rate at which system management interrupts can suspend normal execution of a central processing unit (CPU) by switching the operating mode of the CPU to the system management mode, providing protection against cyberattacks and ensuring efficient execution of workloads.

• The system limits the rate at which system management interrupts can suspend normal CPU execution.
• It switches the CPU operating mode to the system management mode to protect against cyberattacks.
• This protection includes defense against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks from malicious actors.
• The system ensures the CPU can efficiently execute workloads such as processing threads.

Potential Applications

The technology can be applied in various industries where cybersecurity is crucial, such as finance, healthcare, and government sectors. It can also be beneficial for cloud computing providers and data centers to enhance the security and performance of their systems.

Problems Solved

This technology addresses the problem of cyberattacks disrupting normal CPU execution, particularly DDoS attacks that can overwhelm a system. By limiting the rate of system management interrupts, the system provides a protective layer against such attacks and ensures the CPU can continue to function efficiently.

Benefits

- Enhanced cybersecurity protection against DDoS attacks - Improved efficiency in executing workloads on the CPU - Increased system reliability and performance

Commercial Applications

The technology can be commercially utilized by cybersecurity companies to enhance their products and services. It can also be integrated into hardware and software systems to provide an additional layer of defense against cyber threats, making it appealing to organizations looking to bolster their security measures.

Questions about the Technology

How does the system determine the appropriate rate at which system management interrupts can suspend CPU execution?

The system likely uses algorithms and monitoring tools to analyze the workload and system conditions to determine the optimal rate for system management interrupts.

Can the system be customized to adapt to different types of cyber threats beyond DDoS attacks?

Yes, the system can likely be configured to respond to various types of cyber threats by adjusting the rate limits and protective measures accordingly.

Original Abstract Submitted

disclosed herein is a system for limiting the rate at which system management interrupts can suspend normal execution of a central processing unit (cpu) by switching the operating mode of the cpu from one of the real mode or the protected mode to the system management mode. the rate limits imposed by the system provides a protective layer against cyberattacks (e.g., a distributed denial-of-service (ddos) attack) from malicious actors and ensures the cpu can be more efficient regarding the execution of workloads (e.g., processing threads).