Memory unit, data processing unit, and data processing method using memory unit type

• US 6,601,140 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2000
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Okaue, Takumi, Sassa, Akira, Yokota, Teppei, Kihara, Nobuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELMORE, STEPHEN C
• Application Number:
  US09/544,071
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 711/115, 711/103, 713/192, 713/200, 710/301
• US Class Current: 711/115
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/445 by mutual authentication, e.g. between devices or programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/602 Providing cryptographic facilities or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/72 in cryptographic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00333 the key being stored in header data, e.g. in sector headers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00478 wherein contents are decrypted and re-encrypted with a different key when being copied from/to a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00507 wherein consecutive physical data units of the record carrier are encrypted with separate encryption keys, e.g. the key changes on a cluster or sector basis
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00528 wherein each title is encrypted with a separate encryption key for each title, e.g. title key for movie, song or data file
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10 Digital recording or reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10546 specifically adapted for audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/60 Solid state media details of solid state memory devices G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/20 Initialising; Data preset; Chip identification
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/22 : Safety or protection circuits preventing unauthorised or accidental access to memory cells
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2207/16 : Solid state audio deprecated, only for historical reasons, G06F3/16, G11B

Abstract

A technique to determine whether a memory unit currently attached to a data processing unit is of a predetermined type or types. When the power of the data processing unit is turned on, it is determined whether or not a memory unit has been attached to the data processing unit. Thereafter, data is read from a boot block of the memory unit. With reference to identification information of the boot block, it is determined whether or not the attached memory unit is a first type memory unit, such as a security type memory unit. If the attached memory unit is a security type memory unit, an authenticating process is performed. After the memory unit has been authenticated, contents data may be recorded or reproduced. If the attached memory unit is not a security type memory unit, a message that represents that the memory unit cannot be used may be issued. If the data processing unit is a non-security type data processing unit, a normal operation is performed regardless of whether the memory unit attached thereto is a security type or non-security type memory unit.

Claims

1. A memory unit attachable to a data processing unit and detachable therefrom, said memory unit comprising:

a non-volatile memory; and

interface means for communicating with the data processing unit;

wherein identification information indicating at least one of (i) whether the memory unit is of a security type or a non-security type and (ii) whether the memory unit is of a first rate type in which data is recorded in the memory unit at a first rate or a second rate type in which data is recorded in the memory unit at a second rate, the first rate being different from the second rate, is recorded in a predetermined area of the non-volatile memory, and

wherein the identification information is read by the data processing unit when the memory unit is attached thereto.

2. A data processing unit for recording/reproducing data to/from a memory unit, the memory unit having a non-volatile memory and being attachable to/detachable from the data processing unit, the data processing unit comprising:

interface means for communicating with the memory unit; and

means for determining at least one of (i) whether the memory unit is of a security type or a non-security type and (ii) whether the memory unit is of a first rate type in which data is recorded in the memory unit at a first rate or a second rate type in which data is recorded in the memory unit at a second rate, the first rate being different from the second rate when the memory unit is attached thereto;

wherein the determining means includes means for reading identification information from the memory unit indicating at least one of (i) whether the memory unit is of the security type or the non-security type and (ii) whether the memory unit is of the first rate type or the second rate type.

3. The data processing unit as set forth in claim 2, wherein the data processing unit performs a recording/reproducing operation after the determining means determines that the memory unit is of the security type and after performing an authenticating operation with the memory unit.

4. The data processing unit as set forth in claim 2, wherein the data processing unit is one of a security type and a non-security type, and wherein the data processing unit prohibits a recording/reproducing operation after determining that the memory unit is of the non-security type when the data processing unit is of the security type.

5. The data processing unit as set forth in claim 2, wherein the data processing unit is one of a security type and a non-security type, and wherein the data processing unit outputs an error message after determining that the memory unit is of the non-security type when the data processing unit is of the security type.

6. The data processing unit as set forth in claim 2, wherein the data processing unit communicates with the memory unit at the appropriate one of the first and second rates as determined by the determining means.

7. The data processing unit as set forth in claim 2, wherein the identification information is recorded in a predetermined area of the non-volatile memory, and wherein the reading means reads the identification information from the predetermined area of the non-volatile memory when the memory unit is attached to the data processing unit.

8. A data processing method for use with a data processing unit for writing/reading information to/from a memory unit having a non-volatile memory that is attachable to the data processing unit and detachable therefrom, the data processing method comprising the steps of:

reading data from a predetermined storage area of the non-volatile memory of the memory unit when the memory unit is attached to the data processing unit, wherein the data includes identification information indicating at least one of (i) whether the memory unit is of the security type or the non-security type and (ii) whether the memory unit is of the first rate type or the second rate type; and

determining at least one of (i) whether the memory unit is of a security type or a non-security type and (ii) whether the memory unit is of a first rate type in which data is recorded in the memory unit at a first rate or a second rate type in which data is recorded in the memory unit at a second rate, the first rate being different from the second rate.

9. The data processing method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising the step of writing/reading data to/from the memory unit after determining that the memory unit is of the security type and after performing an authenticating operation with the memory unit.

10. The data processing method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the data processing unit is one of a security type and a non-security type, further comprising the step of prohibiting writing/reading data to/from the memory unit after determining that the memory unit is of the non-security type when the data processing unit is of the security type.

11. The data processing method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the data processing unit is one of a security type and a non-security type, further comprising the step of outputting an error message after determining that the memory unit is of the non-security type when the data processing unit is of the security type.

12. The data processing method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the data processing unit communicates with the memory unit at the appropriate one of the first and second rates as determined at the determining step.

13. A data processing unit for recording/reproducing data to/from a memory unit, the memory unit having a non-volatile memory and being attachable to/detachable from the data processing unit, the data processing unit comprising:

interface means for communicating with the memory unit; and

means for determining whether the memory unit is of a first rate type in which data is recorded in the memory unit at a first rate or a second rate type in which data is recorded in the memory unit at a second rate, the first rate being different from the second rate when the memory unit is attached thereto.

14. The data processing unit as set forth in claim 13, further comprising means for determining whether the memory unit is of a security type or a non-security type.

15. The data processing unit as set forth in claim 13, wherein the data processing unit communicates with the memory unit at the appropriate one of the first and second rates as determined by the determining means.