METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO INFORMATION STORED IN A NON-VOLATILE MEMORY
First Claim
1. A communications device for ensuring secure data transfer, the communications device provided in an enclosure, comprising:
- an interface device for controlling data transfer;
an integrated circuit coupled to the interface device and having a processor, a non-volatile memory for storing at least program code for the processor, a volatile memory, an input pin and an output pin;
an electrical conductor which electrically connects the input pin and the output pin, wherein the electrical conductor is positioned in an externally accessible portion of the enclosure to allow a user to easily sever the electrical conductor; and
wherein a portion of the program code detects when the electrical conductor is severed and causes the program code in the non-volatile memory to be erased.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications device for ensuring secure data transfer provided having an interface device for controlling data transfer, an integrated circuit coupled to the interface device and having a processor, a non-volatile memory for storing at least program code for the processor, a volatile memory, an input pin and an output pin; and an electrical conductor which electrically connects the input pin and the output pin. The electrical conductor passes through an external portion of the enclosure, e.g., a slot, which allows a user to easily sever the electrical conductor. In operation, a portion of the program code detects when the electrical conductor is severed and causes the program code in the non-volatile memory to be erased, data transfer via the interface device to be disabled, and power to the integrated circuit cut off to ensure that all information in volatile memory is erased.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A communications device for ensuring secure data transfer, the communications device provided in an enclosure, comprising:
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an interface device for controlling data transfer; an integrated circuit coupled to the interface device and having a processor, a non-volatile memory for storing at least program code for the processor, a volatile memory, an input pin and an output pin; an electrical conductor which electrically connects the input pin and the output pin, wherein the electrical conductor is positioned in an externally accessible portion of the enclosure to allow a user to easily sever the electrical conductor; and wherein a portion of the program code detects when the electrical conductor is severed and causes the program code in the non-volatile memory to be erased. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of ensuring secure data transfer, comprising:
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passing data from a send-only interface to a receive-only interface under the control of program code running on a processor in an integrated circuit, the program code stored in non-volatile memory in the integrated circuit; detecting when an electrical conductor coupled to input and output pins on the integrated circuit is severed; upon detection of the severing of the electrical conductor, causing the program code stored in non-volatile memory to be erased and passing of data to be halted; and upon completion of erasure of the program code in the non-volatile memory, causing power to be removed from the integrated circuit, thereby erasing all information stored in a volatile memory in the integrated circuit.
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Specification