Apparatus and method for providing data security in a computer system having removable memory
First Claim
1. A computer system comprising an input means for inputting data, a processing means for processing data, a data storage means for storing data, and an output means for outputting processed data, said data storage means including a means for removing said data storage means from said computer system, a means for inserting said data storage means into said computer system, and a means for safeguarding data stored on said data storage means, said safeguarding means comprising:
- a means for writing at least one password to said data storage means;
a means for setting said data storage means to a secure mode, wherein data transfer commands are not executed unless said data storage means receives said password;
a means for said data storage means to remain set in said secure mode if said data storage means is removed from said computer system.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system having a memory card for storing data that is capable of being removed and reinserted and also having the capability of safeguarding the data stored thereon. A passward is stored on the memory card. The memory card is set in a secure mode to prevent unauthorized access to the data stored on the memory card. Once the memory card is set in secure mode, it remains in secure mode, even when removed from the computer system and subsequently inserted back into that or another computer system. Access to the data is permitted when the memory card is set in secure mode only if a valid password is provided to the memory card.
279 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A computer system comprising an input means for inputting data, a processing means for processing data, a data storage means for storing data, and an output means for outputting processed data, said data storage means including a means for removing said data storage means from said computer system, a means for inserting said data storage means into said computer system, and a means for safeguarding data stored on said data storage means, said safeguarding means comprising:
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a means for writing at least one password to said data storage means; a means for setting said data storage means to a secure mode, wherein data transfer commands are not executed unless said data storage means receives said password; a means for said data storage means to remain set in said secure mode if said data storage means is removed from said computer system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a computer system having a data storage system for storing data, wherein said data storage system is removable from said computer system, a method of preventing unauthorized access to data stored on said data storage system, comprising the steps of:
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storing a password on said data storage system; setting said data storage system in a secure mode, wherein data commands from said computer system are not executed unless said password is provided to said data storage system; retaining said secure mode by said data storage system if said data storage system is subsequently removed from said computer system. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A hard disk memory card having a security means for granting access to data stored on said memory card only to authorized users, comprising:
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a means for storing at least one password on said memory card; a means for setting said memory card in a secure mode, wherein data transfer commands are not executed while said memory card is set in said secure mode unless said memory card has been unlocked; a means for unlocking said memory card by comparing a received password with said password stored on said memory card, wherein said memory card is unlocked if said received password matches said stored password; a means for setting said memory card in a non-secure mode only when said memory card has been unlocked; a means for said memory card to remain set in said secure mode even if power is not supplied to said memory card. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification