Secure storage device for transfer of data via removable storage

• US 6,587,949 B1
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scenera Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Original Assignee: FotoNation Holdings, LLC (Adeia, Inc.)
• Inventors: Steinberg, Eran
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Gail
• Assistant Examiner(s): Di Lorenzo, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US09/335,219
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 380/54,52 713/176,178,179,193,192
• US Class Current: 713/193
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1408 by using cryptography for digital transmission H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0051 Card-type connector, e.g. PCMCIA card interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3235 Checking or certification of the authentication information, e.g. by comparison with data stored independently
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3236 Details of authentication information generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

A secure storage device with the identical external dimensions, form factor and hardware connectivity configuration of a standard removable storage device, for securing digital data such as digital images from digital cameras at the acquisition stage. Original digital camera data is saved in the memory of the secure storage device after performing one or more security functions, including encryption, creation of an authentication file, adding data to the image data such as fingerprinting, and adding secure annotations such as separate data included in an image header. These processes are transparent to a host device receiving secure data from the storage device because standard protocol is used to write to the secure storage device. The device prepares original authentication data from original digital camera data, and encrypts and stores both the original authentication data and the original image data. The use of the device includes reading the original image data on a separate computer, by means of direct downloading of the data and or mounting the removable storage device on the computer. The computer is able to read data on the raw transfer level as if the device is a standard unsecured storage device. On the content level, the data remains secure. The computer can be programmed with software whereby the encrypted original authentication data can be decrypted by a user having a password key. Additional software may enable the computer to verify the authentication data of the image data for questionable authenticity. The secure storage device secures data from any computerized device that stores data on a removable storage device, such as a portable computer.

Claims

1. A method of securing data in a transparent manner in a removable secure storage device comprising:

(a) writing source data from a digital data source to a removable secure storage device, wherein said removable secure storage device

(i) includes a controller, a processor, a memory, and an interface to the digital data source within the removable secure storage device; and

(ii) said removable secure storage device is responsive to the same protocol in a transparent manner to the host device as an unsecured device having an industry standard form factor, read-write interface, file system configuration, and hardware connectivity, and as a result the removable secure storage device is transparent to said digital data source, whereby said source responds to said removable secure storage device as if it were an unsecured storage device; and

(b) creating secure source data within said removable secure storage device by performing digital processing related to said source data within said removable secure storage device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

(a) loading the secure device with additional data; and

(b) storing the additional data in the secure device.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein said additional data functions as a filter that causes said secure device to selectively secure a portion of said unsecured source data.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said selected portion is a data file.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein said filter causes a specific file format of said data file to be secured.

6. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein said filter causes a file of a specified creation status to be secured.

7. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein said filter causes a file of a specified file size range to be secured.

8. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein said filter selects which portions of said file to be secured.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said portion includes a header data and a trailer data of said file.

10. A removable secure storage device comprising:

(a) an interface for receiving unsecured source digital data from a source device;

(b) a processor for creating secure data from said unsecured source data;

(c) a memory for storing data; and

(d) a controller for controlling functions of the removable secure storage device,

wherein said removable secure storage device is transparently responsive to the same protocol as an unsecured device having an industry standard form factor, read-write interface, file system configuration, and hardware connectivity, and as a result the removable secure storage device is transparent to said source device, whereby said source device responds to the removable secure storage device as if it were any standard peripheral storage device.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said removable secure storage device is responsive to the same protocol and file system structure as an unsecured device.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 further comprising means for securing a selected portion of said unsecured source data, based on a predefined filtering criteria.