Dead on demand technology

• US 20080219122A1
• Filed: 08/28/2006
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ensconce Data Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ensconce Data Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Thorsen, Jack D., Detzler, Roger
• Application Number:
  US11/510,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20080219122A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 369/83
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/554 involving event detection and direct action
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• 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
• 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 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/282 Limited play
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/505 of disk carriers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for destroying at least the data contained on a data storage media upon the occurrence of certain events.

Claims

1. A system for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable upon the occurrence of a certain event, the system comprising:

a reactant reservoir including at least one chamber for holding a reactant chemical, the reactant reservoir in fluid communication with at least an area proximate at least one surface of said data storage device; and

an activation device, coupled to said reactant reservoir and configured to receive a remote signal, said remote signal being a signal other than a signal indicating a user'"'"'s identity, and, upon receiving said remote signal, to cause at least a portion of the reactant chemical to flow from the reactant reservoir into the at least an area proximate at least one surface of said data storage device, thereby destroying the stored data.

2. The system for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 1, wherein the reactant chemical has a first part and a second part which when combined are activated.

3. The system for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 1, wherein the reactant reservoir is an aerosol reservoir that sprays the reactant chemical as a mist into the at least an area proximate at least one surface of said data storage device.

4. The system for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 1, wherein the reactant chemical is applied on at least one surface of the data storage device.

5. The system for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 4, wherein a chemical supply line is operatively mounted between and in fluid communication with the reactant reservoir and at least one nozzle proximate the at least one surface of said data storage device.

6. The system for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 1, wherein the reactant chemical applied to the data storage device corrodes it, thereby destroying the stored data.

7. The system for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 1, further including a stopper device for controlling the flow of the reactant chemical from the reactant reservoir.

8. The system for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 1, wherein the activation device is configured to receive a remote signal from a phone system.

9. The system for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 8, wherein said phone system is a cellular phone.

10. The system for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 1, wherein the activation device is configured to receive a remote signal from a GPS device.

11. The system for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 1, wherein the activation device is configured to receive a remote signal from the Internet.

12. The system for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 1, wherein the activation device is configured to receive a remote signal from a blue-tooth enabled device.

13. The system for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 1, wherein the activation device is configured to receive a remote signal from an RF transmitter.

14. The system for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 1, wherein the remote signal is a trigger signal.

15. The system for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 1, wherein the remote signal indicates a location of the activation device.

16. A method for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable upon the occurrence of a certain event, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a reactant reservoir including at least one chamber for holding a reactant chemical, the reactant reservoir in fluid communication with at least an area proximate at least one surface of said data storage device;

providing an activation device coupled to said reactant reservoir and configured to receive a remote signal;

receiving a signal that does not indicate a user'"'"'s identity from a remote source to commence the destruction of the data contained on the data storage media; and

responsive to said received signal, causing at least a portion of the reactant chemical to flow from the reactant reservoir into the at least an area proximate at least one surface of said data storage device, thereby destroying the stored data.

17. The method for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 16, wherein the reactant chemical has a first part and a second part which when combined are activated and wherein the reactant reservoir has two chambers for holding said first part and said second part of the reactant chemical.

18. The method for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 16, further comprising the act of spraying the reactant chemical into the at least an area proximate at least one surface of said data storage device.

19. The method for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 16, further including the act of applying the reactant chemical on at least one surface of the data storage device.

20. The method for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 16, further including the act of providing notification that the destruction of the data contained on the data storage media has commenced.

21. The method for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 16, wherein said step of receiving a signal from a remote source comprises receiving said remote signal from a phone system.

22. The method for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 21, wherein said phone system is a cellular phone.

23. The method for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 16, wherein said step of receiving a signal from a remote source comprises receiving said remote signal from a GPS device.

24. The method for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 16, wherein said step of receiving a signal from a remote source comprises receiving said remote signal from the Internet.

25. The method for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 16, wherein said step of receiving a signal from a remote source comprises receiving said remote signal from a blue-tooth enabled device.

26. The method for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 16, wherein said step of receiving a signal from a remote source comprises receiving said remote signal from an RF transmitter.

27. The method for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 16, wherein said step of receiving a signal from a remote source comprises receiving a trigger signal.

28. The method for rendering data stored on a data storage device unrecoverable according to claim 16, wherein said step of receiving a signal from a remote source comprises receiving a signal indicating a location.

29. An electronic device comprising:

a storage device for storing data;

a destruction mechanism coupled to said storage device for destroying data stored on the storage device; and

an activation device, coupled to said destruction mechanism and configured to receive a remote signal from an authorized user, and, upon receiving said remote signal, to cause the destruction mechanism to destroy data stored on the storage device.

30. The device according to claim 29, wherein the destruction mechanism comprises a chemical reactant reservoir.

31. The device according to claim 30, wherein the reactant reservoir is an aerosol reservoir that sprays a reactant chemical as a mist into the at least an area proximate at least one surface of said data storage device.

32. The device unrecoverable to claim 29, wherein the storage device comprises flash memory and the destruction mechanism is configured to destroy data stored on the flash memory.

33. The device unrecoverable to claim 29, wherein the storage device comprises a magnetic storage medium and the destruction mechanism is configured to destroy data stored on the magnetic storage medium.

34. The device according to claim 29, wherein the activation device is configured to receive a remote signal from a phone system.

35. The device according to claim 34, wherein said phone system is a cellular phone.

36. The device according to claim 29, wherein the activation device is configured to receive a remote signal from a GPS device.

37. The device according to claim 29, wherein the activation device is configured to receive a remote signal from the Internet.

38. The device according to claim 29, wherein the activation device is configured to receive a remote signal from a blue-tooth enabled device.

39. The device according to claim 29, wherein the activation device is configured to receive a remote signal from an RF transmitter.

40. The device according to claim 29, wherein the remote signal indicates a location of the activation device.

41. The device according to claim 29, further comprising a power source.

42. The device according to claim 41, wherein the device is a flash drive.

43. The device according to claim 41, wherein the device is a hard disk drive.