System and method for programming a data storage device with a password

• US 20070016800A1
• Filed: 07/12/2005
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Piwonka, Mark, Spottswood, Jason, Gibbons, Patrick, Marcak, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,112,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/193
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00

Abstract

There is provided a system and method for programming a data storage device with a password. Specifically, there is provided a method comprising initiating a password programming routine for a data storage device, and programming the data storage device with the password associated with an external storage medium, wherein the data storage device is configured to condition access to the data stored on the data storage device based on the password.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

initiating a password programming routine for a data storage device; and

programming the data storage device with the password associated with an external storage medium, wherein the data storage device is configured to condition access to the data stored on the data storage device based on the password.

2. The method, as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

generating a password using a random number generator; and

storing the generated password on the external storage medium, wherein programming the data storage device comprises programming the data storage device with the generated password.

3. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein programming the data storage device comprises programming the data storage device with a password downloaded from the external storage medium.

4. The method, as set forth in claim 3, wherein downloading the password comprises downloading the password from a semiconductor memory.

5. The method, as set forth in claim 4, wherein downloading the password comprises downloading the password from a smart card.

6. The method, as set forth in claim 4, wherein downloading the password comprises downloading the password from a universal serial bus flash memory device.

7. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein programming the data storage device with the password comprises programming an Advanced Technology Attachment hard drive with an ATA Security password.

8. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein programming the data storage device with the password comprises automatically programming the data storage device with a 32-byte password.

9. A computer configured:

to initiate a password programming routine for a data storage device;

to download a password from an external storage medium; and

to program the data storage device with the password, wherein the data storage device is configured to condition access to the data stored on the data storage device based on the password.

10. The computer, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the computer is configured to program an Advanced Technology Attachment hard drive with an ATA Security password.

11. The computer, as set forth in claim 9, comprising a smart card reader, wherein the computer is configured to download the password from a smart card.

12. The computer, as set forth in claim 9, comprising a universal serial bus port, wherein the computer is configured to download the password via the universal serial bus port.

13. The computer, as set forth in claim 9, comprising a wireless transceiver, wherein the computer is configured to download the password via the wireless transceiver.

14. The computer, as set forth in claim 9, comprising a tangible machine readable medium storing:

code adapted to initiate a password programming routine for a data storage device;

code adapted to download a password from an external storage medium; and

code adapted to program a data storage device with the password, wherein the data storage device is configured to condition access to the data stored on the data storage device based on the password.

15. The computer, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the tangible medium comprises a BIOS ROM.

16. A method comprising:

downloading a password from an external storage medium;

comparing the downloaded password to a password programmed into a data storage device, wherein the data storage device is configured to condition access to the data stored on the data storage device based on the password; and

granting access to the data stored on the data storage device if the downloaded password matches the password programmed into the data storage device.

17. The method, as set forth in claim 16, wherein comparing the downloaded password comprises comparing the downloaded password to an ATA Security password of an Advanced Technology Attachment hard drive.

18. The method, as set forth in claim 16, wherein comparing the downloaded password comprises comparing a password downloaded from a smart card to an ATA Security password of an Advanced Technology Attachment hard drive.

19. The method, as set forth in claim 16, comprising prompting a user to manually enter a password if the downloaded password does not match the password programmed into the data storage device.

20. The method, as set forth in claim 16, wherein comparing the downloaded password comprises comparing a password downloaded from a universal serial bus flash memory device.

21. A storage medium comprising:

a body; and

a tangible machine readable medium coupled to the body, the tangible machine readable medium storing a password suitable for use with an ATA Security feature of an Advanced Technology Attachment hard drive.

22. The storage medium, as set forth in claim 21, wherein the storage medium comprises a smart card.

23. The storage medium, as set forth in claim 21, wherein the storage medium comprises a wireless device.

24. A method comprising:

determining whether an external storage medium comprises a password;

generating a password using a random number generator;

storing the generated password on the external storage medium; and

using the generated password to encrypt a data storage device.

25. The method, as set forth in claim 24, wherein using the generated password to encrypt a data storage device comprises using the generated password to program an ATA Security feature of an Advanced Technology Attachment hard drive.

26. A method comprising:

coupling a data storage device to a computer system;

coupling an external storage medium to the computer system, wherein the external storage medium contains a tangible machine readable medium storing a password;

allowing the computer system to read the password off the external storage medium; and

accessing a data storage device, wherein the password is associated with a security feature of the data storage device.

27. The method, as set forth in claim 26, wherein accessing a data storage device comprises accessing an Advanced Technology Attachment hard drive.