Authority limit management method

• US 20080022415A1
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Transcend Information Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Transcend Information Incorporated
• Inventors: Kuo, Yu-Chiun, Wu, Pei-Yin, Chen, Zechary, Chen, Tsang-Yi, Tseng, Yu-Chang, Chen, Hsieh-Chun, Wu, Liang-Chen
• Application Number:
  US11/455,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20080022415A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/31
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/80 in storage media based on magnetic or optical technology, e.g. disks with sectors preventing unauthorised reproduction or copying of disc-type recordable media G11B20/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user

Abstract

An authority limit management method is proposed for a digital media storage. The digital media storage includes at least one micro processor and at least one memory unit and connected to an access device. A classification authorization code index (CAC index) and a plurality of classification operation commands (COC) is pre-stored in the digital media storage and an identification code is set for the access device. The classification operation commands is performed to calculate a classification authorization code when the digital media storage is connected to the access device for initial transmission protocol. The authority limit of the memory unit for the access device is granted to the access device according to the classification authorization code. Therefore, the data of the digital media storage can be prevented from illegal copy or hacker.

Claims

1. A authority limit management method for digital media storage, the digital media storage comprising at least one micro processor and at least one memory unit and connected to an access device, the method comprising steps of:

a. pre-storing a classification authorization code index (CAC index) and a plurality of classification operation commands (COC) in the digital media storage and setting an identification code for the access device;

b. performing the classification operation command (COC) to calculate a classification authorization code; and

c. granting an authority limit of the memory unit for the access device according to the classification authorization code.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the digital media storage can be memory card, USB storage or hard disk.

3. The method as in claim 2, wherein the memory card can be one of CF (Compact Flash), SM (Smart Media), SD (Secure Digital), MMC (Multi Media Card), xD (xD-Picture Card) or MS (Memory Stick).

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the micro processor is functioned to control a transmission protocol with the access device.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the micro processor is functioned to control an operation and accessing range for the memory unit.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein the memory unit is a flash memory or a hard disk.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein the memory unit comprises at least one readable/recordable area and a hidden area, wherein the readable/recordable area stores digital data and the hidden area stores the classification authorization code index (CAC index) and the classification operation command (COC).

8. The method as in claim 7, wherein the readable/recordable can be readable/recordable, readable/non-recordable, or non-readable/non-recordable according to the access authority limit.

9. The method as in claim 1, wherein the access device is a computer with storage media slot, access device with card reader or USB interface controller.

10. The method as in claim 1, wherein the pre-storing operation in step (a) is performed before the digital media storage leaves factory or updated by original manufacturer.

11. The method as in claim 1, wherein the setting operation in step (a) is performed before the digital media storage leaves factory or updated by original manufacturer.

12. The method as in claim 1, wherein the classification authorization code index (CAC index) records device code and classification authorization code for the access devices, the classification operation command (COC) is used to calculate the device code and classification authorization code for the access device.

13. The method as in claim 1, wherein the step a further comprises pre-storing a storage ID code to the digital media storage.

14. The method as in claim 13, wherein the storage ID code is a unique serial number for representing the digital media storage.

15. The method as in claim 13, further comprising the micro processor sending the storage ID code to the access device.

16. The method as in claim 1, wherein the step a further comprises the micro processor reading the identification code of the access device.

17. The method as in claim 1 or 13, further comprising steps after step (a):

the access device and the micro processor simultaneously ciphering the classification authorization code and the storage ID code for generating a hybrid code;

comparing whether the hybrid codes generated by the access device and the micro processor are matched;

performing step (c) when the hybrid codes are matched, else accessing the memory unit is prohibited.

18. The method as in claim 1, wherein the step (b) is performed when the micro processor and the access device are connected for initial transmission protocol.

19. The method as in claim 1, wherein the step (b) is performed when the micro processor and the access device are turned on for initial transmission protocol.

20. The method as in claim 1, wherein the step (b) further comprises

obtaining the classification authorization code and a device code of the access device by calculating the identification code.

21. The method as in claim 20, wherein the device code is used to identify the access device for the digital media storage.

22. The method as in claim 1, further comprising steps after the step (c):

comparing an authority limit for the classification authorization code according to the classification authorization code index (CAC index); and

determining an authority limit of the memory unit for the access device.

23. The method as in claim 1, further comprising steps after the step (c):

the access device accessing data in the readable/recordable area of the memory unit according to the authority limit.

24. The method as in claim 1, further comprising steps after the step (c):

the access device accessing data in the readable/recordable area of the memory unit according to the authority limit; and

setting an authority limit for a data written by the access device into the readable/recordable area of the memory unit.

25. A digital media storage connected to an access device with an identification code, the digital media storage comprising:

at least one memory unit used to store data and pre-stored with an classification authorization code index (CAC index) and a plurality of classification operation commands (COC); and

at least one micro processor performing the classification operation commands (COC) and calculating a classification authorization code according to the identification code of the access device, the micro processor determining an authority limit of the memory unit for the access device according to the classification authorization code and controlling an operation and range for accessing the memory unit.

26. The digital media storage as in claim 25, wherein the digital media storage can be memory card, USB storage or hard disk.

27. The digital media storage as in claim 26, wherein the memory card can be one of CF (Compact Flash), SM (Smart Media), SD (Secure Digital), MMC (Multi Media Card), xD (xD-Picture Card) or MS (Memory Stick).

28. The digital media storage as in claim 25, wherein the access device is a computer with storage media slot, access device with card reader or USB interface controller.

29. The digital media storage as in claim 25, wherein the identification code is formed by encrypting a device code for representing the access device and a classification authorization code for representing an authority limit of the access device.

30. The digital media storage as in claim 25, wherein the memory unit is a flash memory or a hard disk.

31. The digital media storage as in claim 25, wherein the memory unit comprises at least one readable/recordable area and a hidden area, wherein the readable/recordable area stores digital data and the hidden area stores the classification authorization code index (CAC index) and the classification operation command (COC).

32. The digital media storage as in claim 31, wherein the hidden area is pre-stored with a storage ID code, and the storage ID code is a unique serial number for representing the digital media storage.

33. The digital media storage as in claim 31, wherein the classification authorization code index (CAC index) records device code and classification authorization code for the access device.

34. The digital media storage as in claim 31, wherein the classification operation command (COC) is used to calculate the device code and classification authorization code for the access device.

35. The digital media storage as in claim 31, wherein the readable/recordable can be readable/recordable, readable/non-recordable, or non-readable/non-recordable according to the authority limit.

36. The digital media storage as in claim 25, wherein the micro processor is used to control a transmission protocol for the access device connected to the digital media storage.

37. The digital media storage as in claim 36, wherein the transmission protocol includes that the micro processor reads the identification code of the access device.

38. The digital media storage as in claim 36, wherein the transmission protocol includes that the micro processor performs the classification operation command (COC) and decrypt an device code and the classification authorization code according to the identification code.

39. The digital media storage as in claim 36, wherein the transmission protocol includes that the micro processor sends a storage ID code to the access device;

both the micro processor and the access device cipher the classification authorization code and the storage ID code to a hybrid code, the hybrid codes of the micro processor and the access device are compared;

the authority limit of the memory unit is granted when the hybrid codes are matched;

the accessing of the readable/recordable area is prohibited when the hybrid codes are not matched.

40. The digital media storage as in claim 36, wherein the transmission protocol includes that the classification authorization code is compared with the classification authorization code index (CAC index) to determine the authority limit of the memory unit for the access device.