Smart disk software protection system

• US 5,590,192 A
• Filed: 11/14/1994
• Issued: 12/31/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donna M. Lovett, Robert R. Lovett
• Original Assignee: Donna M. Lovett, Robert R. Lovett
• Inventors: Lovett, Donna M., Lovett, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laufer, Pinchus M.
• Application Number:
  US08/339,587
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 380/4, 380/3, 360/60
• US Class Current: 705/51
• 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 2211/007 Encryption, En-/decode, En-/decipher, En-/decypher, Scramble, (De-)compress

Abstract

A floppy disk, having a microprocessor and battery power supply, a magnetic field sensor, and an on switch on the central hub. A plurality of magnetic fields are placed on the disk housing, in a circular pattern around the disk'"'"'s axis of rotation, and are detected using a magnetic field sensor located on the hub. When the floppy disk is placed into the computer'"'"'s drive bay, the computer disk drive motor does an initial series of operating and idle time increments. The floppy disk magnetic field sensor detects the number of revolutions of the disk, and stores the revolutions per time increment. The computer then communicates with the floppy disk, using disk motor operation and idle times. The floppy disk communicates information to the computer, via the user who reads information on a LCD readout, located on the floppy disk, and types in the information on the computer keyboard. The floppy disk is used as a personalized key, for both installing and updating programs for continued use.

Claims

1. An electronic data protection device, for protecting any type of electrically transmitted information comprising:

(a) a disk housing, having a top portion and a bottom portion, with the bottom portion defining a circular cavity;

(b) a floppy disk, situated between the top portion and bottom portion of the disk housing, having a mylar disk fixed to a hub, where the hub fits and is able to rotate within the bottom portion circular cavity, and contains a microprocessor, a magnetic field sensor, a power supply for the microprocessor, and a switch to activate the microprocessor;

(c) magnetic field areas, located on the disk housing, so that they are detectable by the magnetic field sensor, when the hub rotates within the bottom portion of the disk housing;

(d) a display means, fixed to the hub.

2. An electronic data protection device, as claimed in claim 1, in which the hub is constructed out of metal.

3. An electronic data protection device, as claimed in claim 1, in which the hub is constructed out of plastic, with the microprocessor, power supply, and magnetic field sensor sealed within it.

4. An electronic data protection device, as claimed in claim 1, in which the display means is a liquid crystal display.

5. An electronic data protection device, as claimed in claim 1, in which the microprocessor in the software protection device has a set of one or more algorithms, code symbols and corresponding disk run and stop times, with identical information stored in the electronically transmitted information sought to be protected, and which is uniquely altered in the microprocessor and electronically transmitted information, so that following the alterations, they are identical to each other.

6. An electronic data protection device, as claimed in claim 1, that can receive information and data from a computer, using spin and stop times of a floppy disk, when the floppy disk is placed into the computer disk drive and undergoes a series of timed rotations and stop times, during which time magnetic field sensor detects the passage of magnetic field areas, which information the microprocessor receives and interprets to compute the passage of magnetic fields per unit of time during the spinning process, and which the time units comprise the information sent by the computer.

7. An electronic data protection device, as claimed in claim 1, in which the display means displays information for the user, to type into the computer system, using the computer keyboard.

8. An electronic data protection device, as claimed in claim 1, in which the microprocessor has a time clock, that controls when certain information is to be disclosed to the user.

9. An electronic data protection device, as claimed in claim 1, where both the microprocessor and the electronically transmitted information to be protected create a unique first code, that is used to install the electronically transmitted information into a computer system.

10. An electronic data protection device, as claimed in claim 1, where both the microprocessor and the electronically transmitted information create a first code and a second code, that are stored in the microprocessor'"'"'s memory until either code is needed for an update of the electronically transmitted information, and can create other unique codes required for additional updates.

11. An electronic data protection device, as claimed in claim 1, where the microprocessor'"'"'s memory can be used to allow protection of more than one electronic data program.

12. An electronic data protection device, as claimed in claim 1, where any type of electronically transmitted information comprises software programs, audio and visual input data, and any data that is transferable using modems or disk storage and transfer.