Memory module

• US 20050076182A1
• Filed: 10/03/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Minne, Mark W.
• Application Number:
  US10/678,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20050076182A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07354 by biometrically sensitive means, e.g. fingerprint sensitive fingerprint sensors in general G06V40/12; biometrically activated access control G07C9/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07732 the record carrier having a housing or construction similar to well-known portable memory devices, such as SD cards, USB or memory sticks housings for electrical equipment in general, see H05K5/02

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a memory module. The memory module includes an adapter region for interfacing the memory module with a host electronic device, a memory component, and an on-card intelligent controller. A fingerprint data security system is in communication with the on-card intelligent controller, configured to identify a user before allowing access to the memory module.

Claims

1. A memory module compatible for use with a host electronic device, the memory module comprising:

a memory component;

an on-board intelligent controller; and

a fingerprint data security system in communication with the on-board intelligent controller configured to identify a user before enabling access to the memory module.

2. The memory module of claim 1, where the memory component is an atomic resolution storage device.

3. The memory module of claim 2, the atomic resolution storage device comprising a plurality of field emitters, a storage medium located in proximity to the field emitters, and micromover for moving the field emitters relative to the storage medium.

4. The memory module of claim 1, further comprising an adapter region for interfacing the memory module with the host electronic device;

5. The memory module of claim 1, further comprising a power source.

6. The memory module of claim 1, wherein the memory module is a removable memory, and wherein the on-board intelligent controller controls access to the removable memory.

7. The memory module of claim 1, wherein the on-board intelligent controller includes the fingerprint data security system.

8. The memory module of claim 1, wherein the on-board intelligent controller stores fingerprint data in the memory component.

9. The memory module of claim 8, wherein the on-board intelligent controller receives the fingerprint data from a network site via the host electronic device.

10. A memory module compatible for use with a host electronic device, the memory module comprising:

a memory component;

an on-board intelligent controller; and

a fingerprint data security system in communication with the on-board intelligent controller configured to identify a user before enabling access to the memory module, wherein the fingerprint data security system comprises an authorized fingerprint list and a requesting fingerprint list.

11. The memory module of claim 10, wherein the fingerprint data security system comprises a fingerprint analysis system, and wherein the on-board intelligent controller compares the requesting fingerprint with the authorized fingerprint list via the fingerprint analysis system.

12. The memory module of claim 10, wherein the memory component comprises a nonvolatile memory, and wherein the on-board intelligent controller stores the authorized fingerprint list in the nonvolatile memory.

13. The memory module of claim 10, wherein the memory component comprises a volatile memory, and wherein the on-board controller stores the requesting fingerprint in the volatile memory.

14. The memory module of claim 10, wherein the authorized fingerprint list comprises at least one authorized fingerprint.

15. A memory module compatible for use with a host electronic device, the memory module comprising:

a memory component;

an on-board intelligent controller; and

a fingerprint data security system in communication with the on-board intelligent controller configured to identify a user before enabling access to the memory module where, the fingerprint data security system includes a fingerprint reader.

16. The memory module of claim 15, wherein the fingerprint reader receives a user'"'"'s fingerprint and generates a requesting fingerprint representative of the user'"'"'s fingerprint.

17. The memory module of claim 15, wherein the fingerprint reader includes a sensing window for receiving a user'"'"'s fingerprint.

18. The memory module of claim 17, wherein the user'"'"'s finger covers at least a portion of the sensing window.

19. The memory module of claim 18, where the user'"'"'s finger covers a portion of the sensing window when the user holds the memory module.

20. The memory module of claim 15, where the memory module is a memory card.

21. A method of protecting information stored on a memory card, the method comprising:

comparing an electronic fingerprint stored on the memory card to a later received electronic fingerprint;

determining access based on a comparison of the first electronic fingerprint with the received electronic fingerprint; and

granting access to the memory card if the stored electronic fingerprint matches the received electronic fingerprint.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein comparing the stored electronic fingerprint comprises using an on-card data security system.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein comparing the stored electronic fingerprint comprises using a fingerprint reader to receive the received electronic fingerprint.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein using a fingerprint reader comprises using a sensing window to receive the received electronic fingerprint.

25. The method of claim 21, comprising receiving the stored electronic fingerprint from a network site via a host electronic device.

26. The method of claim 21, comprises receiving the stored electronic fingerprint comprising defining an authorized fingerprint list to include the stored electronic fingerprint.

27. The method of claim 21, comprising receiving the stored electronic fingerprint comprising storing the stored electronic fingerprint on the memory card.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein comparing the stored electronic fingerprint to the received electronic fingerprint includes storing the received electronic fingerprint on the memory card.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein determining access based on the comparison of the stored electronic fingerprint to the received electronic fingerprint comprises determining access via an on-card intelligent controller.

30. A memory card compatible for use with a host electronic device, the memory card comprising:

an adapter region for interfacing the memory module with the host electronic device;

an on-card intelligent controller;

a memory component, comprising an atomic resolution storage device configured to communicate with the on-card intelligent controller as a redundant array of independent storage devices, where the atomic resolution storage device is a non-volatile memory component including a plurality of electron emitters, a media having media partitions, and a plurality of micromovers wherein each micromover is independently operable to move a media partition relative to one or more electron emitters for reading and writing data at the media; and

a fingerprint data security system in communication with the on-card intelligent controller configured to identify a user before allowing access to the memory card.

34. The mobile computing device of claim 30, wherein the mobile computing device is a personal digital assistant.

31. A mobile computing system, comprising:

a mobile computing device;

a memory module in communication with the mobile computing device comprising;

a memory component, an on-board intelligent controller, and a data security system in communication with the on-board intelligent controller configured to identify a user before allowing access to the memory module.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

an adapter region for interfacing the memory module with the mobile computing device.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the memory module is a form factor memory card.

35. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions for performing a method of protecting information stored on a memory module, the instructions comprising:

logic for comparing an electronic fingerprint stored in the memory module to a received electronic fingerprint;

logic for determining access based on a comparison of the stored electronic fingerprint with the received electronic fingerprint; and

logic for granting access to the memory memory module if the stored electronic fingerprint matches the received electronic fingerprint.