Method of traceless portable application execution

• US 20050114643A1
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Digital Israel Limited (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers Ltd. (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsvi, Yaakov Ben, Yerushalmi, Daniel, Bryant-Rich, Donald Ray, Golde, Ittai, Baum, Erez
• Granted Patent: US 7,296,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44584 Portable applications, i.e. making applications self-contained, e.g. U3 standard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44594 Unloading

Abstract

When a non-volatile memory device is reversibly operationally connected to a computer, the computer executes an application that is stored on the device. The execution causes changes to a non-volatile memory of the computer. After the execution terminates, all such changes are undone, either immediately if the termination was normal or upon rebooting the computer if the termination was abnormal. Before or during the execution, information related to the changes is recorded. The undoing of the changes is based on that information. Examples of such information recorded before the execution include a list of expected changes and a partial or full copy of the computer'"'"'s non-volatile memory.

Claims

1. A method of operating a computer, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing at least one application in a non-volatile memory that is separate from the computer;

(b) reversibly operationally connecting said separate non-volatile memory to the computer;

(c) executing one of said at least one application, by the computer, said executing of said one application causing at least one change to a non-volatile memory of the computer, said change persisting after said executing of said one application terminates; and

(d) undoing said at least one change, subsequent to said executing;

wherein, if said executing of said one application terminates normally, said undoing is effected consequent to said terminating of said executing of said one application, and if said executing of said one application terminates abnormally, the method further comprises the steps of;

(e) subsequent to said disconnecting, booting the computer, said undoing being initiated by said booting.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(f) recording information related to said at least one change, said undoing being based at least in part on said information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of said information is recorded in said separate non-volatile memory.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of said information is recorded in a volatile memory of the computer.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of said recording is effected during said executing of said one application.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of said recording is effected prior to said executing of said one application.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said information includes a list of at least one said change that said executing of said one application is expected to effect.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said information includes a copy of at least a portion of said non-volatile memory of the computer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said separate non-volatile memory is a read-only memory.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said separate non-volatile memory is a programmable memory.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said separate non-volatile memory is a flash memory.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said separate non-volatile memory includes both a read-only portion and a programmable portion.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said executing of said one application is consequent to the computer detecting said reversibly operationally connecting of said separate non-volatile memory to the computer.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said executing of said one application is initiated by an interaction, of a user of the computer with the computer, other than causing the computer to detect said reversibly operationally connecting of said separate non-volatile memory to the computer.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(f) storing, in said separate non-volatile memory, at least one launcher of said at least one application, execution of each said at least one application being managed by a respective said launcher.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a single said launcher is stored in said separate non-volatile memory.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a single said application is stored in said separate non-volatile memory.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein a plurality of said applications is stored in said separate non-volatile memory.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said launcher is operative to present said plurality of applications interactively to a user of the computer, the method further comprising the step of:

(f) selecting, by said user, which one of said applications is to be executed.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein a plurality of said launchers and a like plurality of said applications are stored in said separate non-volatile memory.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(f) partitioning said separate non-volatile memory into a first portion wherein said at least one application is stored and a second portion wherefrom said at least one application is blocked.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said partitioning is done dynamically.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(f) prior to said executing of said one application, installing in the computer a cleanup service for effecting said undoing when said booting is effected.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said undoing also is effected by said cleanup service if said executing of said one application terminates normally.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of:

(g) removing said cleanup service, subsequent to said undoing.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said removing is effected only if said undoing is initiated by said booting.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of:

(g) removing said cleanup service from the computer, subsequent to said booting.

28. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable code embodied on said computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable code comprising:

(a) an application;

(b) a launcher for executing said application on a computer when the computer-readable storage medium is reversibly operationally connected to the computer, said executing of said application causing at least one change to a non-volatile memory of the computer; and

(c) program code for undoing said at least one change, subsequent to said executing.

29. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the computer-readable storage medium is a read-only medium.

30. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the computer-readable storage medium is a programmable medium.

31. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the computer-readable code comprises a single said launcher.

32. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the computer-readable code comprises a single said application.

33. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the computer-readable code comprises a plurality of said applications.

34. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the computer-readable code comprises a plurality of said applications and a like plurality of said launchers, each said launcher for executing a respective said application.

35. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein said launcher also is for recording information related to said at least one change, said undoing being based at least in part on said information.

36. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the computer-readable code further comprises:

(d) a list of at least one change that said executing of said application is expected to effect, said undoing being based at least in part on said list.

37. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein said program code for undoing said at least one change is included in said launcher.

38. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein said program code for undoing said at least one change is a cleanup service separate from said launcher.

39. A method of operating a computer, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing at least one application in a non-volatile memory that is separate from the computer;

(b) reversibly operationally connecting said separate non-volatile memory to the computer;

(c) executing one of said at least one application, by the computer, said executing of said one application causing at least one change to a non-volatile memory of the computer, said change persisting after said executing of said one application terminates;

(d) recording information related to said at least one change; and

(e) undoing said at least one change, subsequent to said executing of said one application, said undoing being based at least in part on said information.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein at least a portion of said information is recorded in said separate non-volatile memory.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein at least a portion of said information is recorded in a volatile memory of the computer.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein at least a portion of said recording is effected during said executing of said one application.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein at least a portion of said recording is effected prior to said executing of said one application.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said information includes a list of at least one said change that said executing of said one application is expected to effect.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein said information includes a copy of at least a portion of said non-volatile memory.

46. The method of claim 39, wherein said separate non-volatile memory is a read-only memory.

47. The method of claim 39, wherein said separate non-volatile memory is a programmable memory.

48. The method of claim 39, wherein said separate non-volatile memory includes both a read-only portion and a programmable portion.

49. The method of claim 39, wherein said executing of said one application is consequent to the computer detecting said reversibly operationally connecting of said separate non-volatile memory to the computer.

50. The method of claim 39, wherein said executing of said one application is initiated by an interaction of a user of the computer with the computer, other than causing the computer to detect said reversibly operationally connecting of said separate non-volatile memory to the computer.

51. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of:

(f) storing, in said separate non-volatile memory, at least one launcher of said at least one application, said executing of each said at least one application being managed by a respective said launcher.

52. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of:

(f) partitioning said separate non-volatile memory into a first portion wherein said at least one application is stored and a second portion wherefrom said at least one application is blocked.