Portable memory device and method of securing the integrity of stored data therein utilizing a starting address and a stored memory cycle number
First Claim
1. A method of securing the integrity of data stored in a portable memory device, comprising the steps of:
- providing a memory in the portable memory device having a plurality of storage locations which are sequentially addressable and into which input data is writable and from which output data is readable;
preselecting a range of storage locations with a set of addresses extending from a first address to a last address;
storing a starting address in the memory corresponding to a memory address between the first address and the last address;
writing input data into the memory only within the preselected range of storage locations by sequentially addressing the memory from the starting address, a new memory cycle being started each time the starting address is the first address;
storing a current memory cycle number in the memory;
incrementing the stored memory cycle number for each new memory cycle; and
outputting the stored memory cycle number with the output data read from the preselected range of storage locations, whereby each location in the preselected range of storage locations has a memory cycle number associated with the data stored therein to indicate if an overwrite and therefore a loss in the integrity of the data has occurred.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable memory device and method of securing the integrity of data stored therein. The integrity of the stored data is secured by writing input data into the device in a preselected range of storage locations between a first address and a last address, storing a starting address corresponding to a memory address between the first address and the last address, sequentially addressing the memory from the starting address and writing input data into each of the sequentially addressed storage locations. The writing of input data sequentially from the first address to the last address constitutes a memory cycle and the number of the current memory cycle is stored in the device. The stored output data is transmitted outside of the device along with the number of the current memory cycle, so that each storage location in the range of storage locations has a memory cycle number associated with the data stored therein to indicate if an overwrite and therefore a loss in the integrity of the data has occurred. The writing of input data into the portable memory device may be prevented by producing a write halt signal when the starting address is greater than the last address. A new memory cycle may also be started in response to a restart signal.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of securing the integrity of data stored in a portable memory device, comprising the steps of:
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providing a memory in the portable memory device having a plurality of storage locations which are sequentially addressable and into which input data is writable and from which output data is readable; preselecting a range of storage locations with a set of addresses extending from a first address to a last address; storing a starting address in the memory corresponding to a memory address between the first address and the last address; writing input data into the memory only within the preselected range of storage locations by sequentially addressing the memory from the starting address, a new memory cycle being started each time the starting address is the first address; storing a current memory cycle number in the memory; incrementing the stored memory cycle number for each new memory cycle; and outputting the stored memory cycle number with the output data read from the preselected range of storage locations, whereby each location in the preselected range of storage locations has a memory cycle number associated with the data stored therein to indicate if an overwrite and therefore a loss in the integrity of the data has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A portable memory device, comprising:
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a memory having a plurality of storage locations which are sequentially addressable and into which input data is writable and from which output data is readable, the plurality of storage locations including a preselected range of storage locations with a set of addresses extending from a first address to a last address; and a processor for storing a starting address in the memory corresponding to a memory address between the first address and the last address and for writing input data into the memory only within the preselected range of storage locations by sequentially addressing the memory from the starting address in a memory cycle, wherein a new memory cycle is started each time the starting address is the first address, and wherein the processor stores a current memory cycle number in the memory and increments the stored memory cycle number for each new memory cycle; and wherein the processor outputs the stored memory cycle number with the output data read from the preselected range of storage locations, whereby each location in the preselected range of storage locations has a memory cycle number associated with the data stored therein to indicate if an overwrite and therefore a loss in the integrity of the data has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A control process comprising the steps of:
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moving a portable memory device from one station to at least one other station; transmitting input data from a station to the portable memory device for storage therein; receiving output data from the portable memory device at a station; and securing the integrity of data stored in the portable memory device by providing a memory in the portable memory device having a plurality of storage locations which are sequentially addressable and into which input data is writable and from which output data is readable; preselecting a range of storage locations with a set of addresses extending from a first address to a last address; storing a starting address in the memory corresponding to a memory address between the first address and the last address; writing the input data into the memory only within the preselected range of storage locations by sequentially addressing the memory from the starting address, a new memory cycle being started each time the starting address is the first address; storing a current memory cycle number in the memory; incrementing the stored memory cycle number for each new memory cycle; and outputting the stored memory cycle number with the output data read from the preselected range of storage locations, whereby each location in the preselected range of storage locations has a memory cycle number associated with the data stored therein to indicate if an overwrite and therefore a loss in the integrity of the data has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification