DATA DELETING METHOD FOR COMPUTER STORAGE DEVICE

• US 20120047582A1
• Filed: 08/20/2010
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nexcom International Co , Ltd
• Original Assignee: Nexcom International Co , Ltd
• Inventors: CHAN, Yi-Hsin
• Application Number:
  US12/860,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20120047582A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen

Abstract

A data deleting method for a computer storage device is implemented by first setting a default status of a delete-able status for a deletion record file in the storage device when the storage device is powered on, where the default status can be enable or disable. If the delete-able status of the deletion record file is kept in an enable state before the storage device is powered off, the whole data stored in the storage device is deleted automatically when the storage device is powered on next time. This is because the enable state of the delete-able status of the deletion record file is detected by a control unit of the storage device. Therefore, the method can prevent the data in the storage device from any theft or unauthorized usage.

Claims

1. A data deleting method for a computer storage device, applied between a computer and a storage device, the storage device having a control unit and a data memory, the control unit further comprising a working memory, the method including steps of:

a) powering-on the storage device;

b) detecting whether a delete-able status of a deletion record file in the working memory is in an enable state or not by the control unit; and

c) if the delete-able status of the deletion record file in the working memory is in an enable state in the step b), deleting data in the storage device by the control unit.

2. The data deleting method for a computer storage device according to claim 1, wherein the working memory further includes a start-up file, and the method further includes, prior to the step b), steps of:

b01) executing the start-up file by the control unit; and

b02) reading the deletion record file by the start-up file.

3. The data deleting method for a computer storage device according to claim 1, wherein the whole data in the data memory is deleted in the step c).

4. The data deleting method for a computer storage device according to claim 1, wherein the storage device is a USB flash drive, a memory card or an external hard disk drive, the storage device is powered on in the step a) when being electrically connected to the computer.

5. The data deleting method for a computer storage device according to claim 1, prior to the step a), further including steps of:

a01) powering-on the storage device;

a02) sending a control command to the storage device by a central processing unit of the computer;

a03) setting a default status of the deletion record file by the control unit based on the control command;

a04) after the step a03), checking the status of the deletion record file;

a05) switching the state of the delete-able status of the deletion record file by the control unit based on the control command; and

a06) powering-off the storage device.

6. The data deleting method for a computer storage device according to claim 5, wherein the central processing unit sends the control command via control software stored in a hard disk drive of the computer.

7. The data deleting method for a computer storage device according to claim 5, wherein the central processing unit sends the control command via control software stored in the working memory.

8. The data deleting method for a computer storage device according to claim 5, prior to the step a02), further including a step a021) of authenticating a key password.

9. The data deleting method for a computer storage device according to claim 1, wherein the deletion record file is a flag in the working memory.

10. A data deleting method for a computer storage device, applied between a computer and a hard disk drive, the hard disk drive being provided within the computer and having a second control unit and a second data memory, the second control unit further comprising a working memory, the method including steps of:

a) turning on the computer to power-on the hard disk drive;

b) detecting whether the delete-able status of a deletion record file in the working memory is in an enable state or not by the second control unit;

c) if the delete-able status of the deletion record file in the working memory is in an enable state in the step b), deleting data in the hard disk drive by the second control unit.

11. The data deleting method for a computer storage device according to claim 10, wherein the hard disk drive is a traditional mechanical hard disk drive or a Solid State Disk (SSD).

12. The data deleting method for a computer storage device according to claim 10, wherein the computer is a notebook computer.

13. The data deleting method for a computer storage device according to claim 10, wherein the working memory further includes a start-up file, and the method further includes, prior to the step b), steps of:

b01) executing the start-up file by the second control unit; and

b02) reading the deletion record file by the start-up file.

14. The data deleting method for a computer storage device according to claim 10, wherein the whole data in the second data memory is deleted in the step c).

15. The data deleting method for a computer storage device according to claim 10, prior to the step a), further including steps of:

a01) turning on the computer to power-on the hard disk drive;

a02) sending a control command to the hard disk drive by a central processing unit of the computer;

a03) setting a default status of the deletion record file by the second control unit based on the control command;

a04) after the step a03), checking the delete-able status of the deletion record file;

a05) switching the state of the delete-able status of the deletion record file by the second control unit based on the control command; and

a06) turning off the computer to power-off the hard disk drive.

16. The data deleting method for a computer storage device according to claim 15, wherein the central processing unit sends the control command via control software stored in the second working memory.

17. The data deleting method for a computer storage device according to claim 15, prior to the step a02), further including a step a021) of authenticating a key password.

18. The data deleting method for a computer storage device according to claim 10, wherein the deletion record file is a flag in the second working memory.