Password protection for removable hard drive
First Claim
1. A method of preventing unauthorized access to data on a hard drive that is movable from one system having an access restrictor which permits access to the data on the hard drive only through use of a password to another system in which the data on the hard drive would have been accessible without providing the password, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a movable hard drive which has means for preventing access to the data on the hard drive;
(b) storing a first password on the hard drive so that the first password is not accessible from a system in which the hard drive is installed;
(c) providing a second password from the system in which the hard drive is installed to the hard drive;
(d) making a comparison in the hard drive of the first and second passwords to determine whether the two passwords are the same;
(e) preventing access to the data on the hard drive if the result of the comparison of the first and second passwords is that the two passwords are not the same;
(f) granting access to the data on the hard drive if the comparison indicates that the two passwords are the same, and storing the second password in the system in which the hard drive is installed so that the second password remains stored only so long as the system in which the hard drive is stored remains powered; and
(g) automatically providing said second password to said hard drive for comparison if access to the data on the hard disk is subsequently prevented after having been granted.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method for preventing access to data on a hard drive in which a first password is stored on the hard drive so that it is not accessible from a system in which the hard drive is installed, and in which a second password is provided from the system. A comparison of the two passwords is made in a processor in the hard drive to determine whether the two passwords are the same. If the result of the comparison of the first and second passwords is that the two passwords are not the same, access to the hard drive is denied.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of preventing unauthorized access to data on a hard drive that is movable from one system having an access restrictor which permits access to the data on the hard drive only through use of a password to another system in which the data on the hard drive would have been accessible without providing the password, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a movable hard drive which has means for preventing access to the data on the hard drive; (b) storing a first password on the hard drive so that the first password is not accessible from a system in which the hard drive is installed; (c) providing a second password from the system in which the hard drive is installed to the hard drive; (d) making a comparison in the hard drive of the first and second passwords to determine whether the two passwords are the same; (e) preventing access to the data on the hard drive if the result of the comparison of the first and second passwords is that the two passwords are not the same; (f) granting access to the data on the hard drive if the comparison indicates that the two passwords are the same, and storing the second password in the system in which the hard drive is installed so that the second password remains stored only so long as the system in which the hard drive is stored remains powered; and (g) automatically providing said second password to said hard drive for comparison if access to the data on the hard disk is subsequently prevented after having been granted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of selectively protecting data on a storage medium in a data reader that is in a system, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining with the data reader whether a predetermined storage location on the storage medium is blank; (b) disabling access to the storage medium if the storage location is not blank and in the absence of an enable signal; (c) sending a password from the system to the data reader; (d) comparing on the data reader the password to a content of the storage location; (e) generating on the data reader an enable signal for allowing access to the storage medium if the password favorably compares to the contents; (f) storing the password in the system only as long as the system remains powered; and (g) automatically providing the password stored in the system to the data reader for comparison if the enable signal is lost. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method of controlling access to data on a removable data storage device that is useable in any one of plural systems for processing the data accessed from the data storage device, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing a first password on the data storage device so that the first password can only be accessed by the data storage device; (b) providing a second password to the data storage device from a one of the systems which is seeking access to the data on the data storage device; (c) comparing on the data storage device the first and second passwords; (d) permitting access to the data on the data storage device from the one of the systems and storing the second password on the one of the systems only as long as the one of the systems remains powered if the first and second passwords are the same; and (e) automatically providing the second password to the data storage device from the one of the systems if access to the data on the storage device is subsequently denied after having been permitted, whereby permission to access the data on the data storage device from any of the plural systems for processing the data on the data storage device is granted only by the data storage device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for controlling access to data on a data storage device installed in a system,
said data storage device comprising, a storage medium having a predetermined storage location for storing a first password, said storage location not being accessible from said system, means for receiving a second password, a comparator for comparing said first and second passwords, and for providing an enable signal when said first and second passwords are the same, means for denying access to said storage medium from said system in the absence of said enable signal; - and said system comprising a data request interface for providing a request for access to data on said data storage device, and
means for storing said second password only for so long as said system remains powered and for automatically providing said second password from said means for storing to said means for receiving responsive to an absence of said enable signal, where said enable signal was previously present. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- and said system comprising a data request interface for providing a request for access to data on said data storage device, and
Specification