Smart data storage device

• US 6,722,570 B1
• Filed: 04/12/1995
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Kagaku Media Company Limited (Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SmartDisk Corporation
• Inventors: Eisele, Raymund H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reagan, James A.
• Application Number:
  US08/420,796
• Time in Patent Office: 3,296 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/493, 235/449, 235/487, 235/380, 380/3, 380/4, 380/25, 360/137, 360/132, 360/133, 369/14, 369/53, 395/186, 395/187.01, 395/188.01
• US Class Current: 235/492
• 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 21/80 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 2221/2121 Chip on media, e.g. a disk or tape with a chip embedded in its case
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0623 in relation to content
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0655 Vertical data movement, i.e. input-output transfer; data movement between one or more hosts and one or more storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0676 Magnetic disk device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06206 the magnetic marking being emulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07777 the antenna being of the inductive type
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/0327 for special applications not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/049 Cassettes for special applications not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/141 Battery and back-up supplies

Abstract

An insertable device, for use with electronic data processing equipment storage units, e.g., disk drives or cassette units. The device includes a housing for insertion at least partially into the storage unit of a size and shape designed to fit the storage unit, an interface disposed in the housing for facilitating the transfer of data between the device and the electronic data processing equipment, and a processor disposed in the housing and operatively connected to the interface, for performing processing of data.

Claims

1. A data security system for electronic data processing equipment, the electronic data processing equipment having a central processing unit with a storage unit, the storage unit being one of a diskette drive and a tape cassette storage unit having at least one magnetic read/write head, and a device for providing data security, the device comprising:

housing means for housing components of the device, and for insertion into the storage unit, the housing means being of a shape and size of one of a diskette and a cassette housing and being designed to fit at least partially into and operatively engage the storage unit;

a single interface means disposed in said housing means, for transferring data to and from the device and the at least one magnetic read/write head of the storage unit of the electronic data processing equipment;

data processor means, disposed in said housing means and operatively connected to said interface means, for performing processing of data to enable secure access, encryption, and affecting operation of the electronic data processing equipment;

a battery, disposed in said housing means, for storing energy to operate the device; and

wherein the interface means includes simulation means for simulating one of a diskette and a tape storage medium, the simulation means comprising driver circuit means operatively connected to the data processor means, for converting digital data signals from the data processor means into simulated storage media signals to be provided to the storage unit and for converting received signals from the storage unit into digital data signals for processing by the data processor means.

2. The data security system according to claim 1, further comprising:

memory means disposed in said housing means and operatively connected to the data processor means of the device, for storing at least one of data and programs.

3. The data security system according to claim 2, further comprising:

generator means for recharging the battery, the battery providing components of the device with power.

4. The data security system according to claim 2, wherein said data processor means includes protection means for protecting data in said memory means from unauthorized external access through said single interface means, wherein data stored in said memory means is accessible only by said data processor means of said device.

5. The data security system according to claim 2, wherein said memory means stores security data for use by said data processor means of the device during processing of data comprising at least one of:

one or more cryptographic algorithms, and one or more secret keys.

6. The data security system according to claim 2, wherein said device includes loading means for loading one or more programs for said processing means transferred thereto from the electronic data processing equipment through the storage unit, said interface means and said data processor means, into said memory means.

7. The data security system according to claim 2, wherein said data processor means of said device operates and communicates interactively with external electronic data processing equipment associated with the storage unit when inserted therein, such that at certain points in the execution of a program in the electronic data processing equipment, data is transferred to said device and processed therein, results thereafter being fed from said device to the electronic data processing equipment.

8. The data security system according to claim 1, wherein the interface means comprises:

electrical coupling means for providing signals to the storage unit in the same form as signals read from one of a diskette and a cassette.

9. The data security system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a key-pad for inputting data into the device having at least numerical and function keys, said key-pad being disposed on said housing means and operatively connected to said data processor means of the device.

10. The data security system according to claim 1, further comprising:

display means disposed on said housing means and operatively connected to said data processor means of the device, for displaying at least alpha-numeric data to a user of the device.

11. The data security system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a key-pad for inputting data into the device having at least numerical and function keys, said key-pad being disposed on said housing means and operatively connected to said data processor means of the device; and

display means disposed on said housing means and operatively connected to said data processor means of the device, for displaying at least alpha-numeric data to a user of the device;

wherein said key-pad and said display means are configured as a modular unit attached physically and electrically to the device.

12. The data security system of claim 1, wherein the data processor means includes means for performing at least one of verification of user authorization, encryption of data, decryption of data, and protection of copyrighted material by interactive program control passing.

13. The data security system according to claim 12, wherein the data processor means of the device performs at least one of encryption and decryption of data, wherein encryption includes encrypting data received from the storage unit and transmitting encrypted data to the storage unit, and wherein decryption includes decrypting data received from the storage unit and transmitting decrypted data to the storage unit.

14. The data security system according to claim 1, wherein the interface means includes simulation means for simulating a storage medium by providing signals which change with time.

15. The data security system according to claim 1, wherein said interface means includes at least one magnetic coil, and wherein said interface means simulates one of a magnetic diskette and a magnetic tape by producing magnetic signals with said coil.

16. A method of operating a security system including a device for providing data security to enable secure access and operation of electronic data processing equipment, the electronic data processing equipment having a storage unit, a display and a first data processor means, the device being for insertion into the storage unit of the electronic data processing equipment, the storage unit including at least one read/write head and being one of a diskette drive and a tape cassette storage unit, the device including housing means for housing components of the device and for insertion into the storage unit, the housing means being of a shape and size of one of a diskette and a cassette housing and being designed to fit at least partially into and operatively engage the storage unit, a single interface means disposed in said housing means, for transferring data between the device and the at least one read/write head of the storage unit, and second data processor means disposed in said housing means and operatively connected to said interface means, for performing processing of data, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting the housing means of the device into the storage unit so that the device operatively engages with the storage unit and the at least one read/write head therein;

transferring user identification data input on the electronic data processing equipment to the second data processor means of the device from the electronic data processing equipment through the storage unit through the interface means and the at least one read/write head;

verifying user authorization, including processing the user identification data with the second data processor means of the device; and

transferring to the electronic data processing equipment a verification result from the preceding verifying step and displaying the verification result on at least the display of the electronic data processing equipment.

17. A method of operating a security system including a device for providing data security to enable secure access and operation of electronic data processing equipment, the electronic data processing equipment having a storage unit, a display and a first data processor means, the device being for insertion into the storage unit of the electronic data processing equipment, the storage unit including at least one read/write head and being one of a diskette drive and a tape cassette storage unit, the device including housing means for housing components of the device and for insertion into the storage unit, the housing means being of a shape and size of one of a diskette and a cassette housing and being designed to fit at least partially into and operatively engage the storage unit, a single interface means disposed in said housing means, for transferring data between the device and the at least one read/write head of the storage unit, and second data processor means disposed in said housing means and operatively connected to said interface means, for performing processing of data, wherein both the device and the electronic data processing equipment are equipped with a key-pad for inputting data into the device having at least numerical and function keys, the key-pad of the device being operatively connected to the second data processor means of the device, and wherein the device is equipped with display means operatively connected to the second data processor means, for displaying data to a user of the device, wherein the key-pad and the display means are configured as a modular unit attached physically and electrically to the device, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting the housing means of the device into the storage unit so that the device operatively engages with the storage unit and the at least one read/write head therein;

inputting a user personal identification number into the device by numerical keys of the device key-pad, or inputting a user personal identification number on the keypad of the electronic data processing equipment and causing transfer of the personal identification number to the device in response to actuation of one of the function keys;

verifying user authorization, including processing the inputted user personal identification number in the second data processor means of the device;

transferring to the electronic data processing equipment a verification result from the preceding verifying step; and

displaying a verification result from the preceding verifying step on at least one of the display of the electronic data processing equipment, or the display means.

18. Data security apparatus for electronic data processing equipment, the apparatus comprising:

housing means for insertion into a data storage unit of the electronic data processing equipment, the housing means being one of a diskette and a cassette housing of a shape and size designed to fit into and operatively engage the data storage unit;

a single interface means disposed in said housing means, for transferring data to and from the apparatus and the electronic data processing equipment through the data storage unit, the interface means including simulating means for simulating a cassette tape or a diskette storage medium; and

data processor means, disposed in said housing means and operatively connected to said interface means, for performing processing of data to enable secure access and operation of the electronic data processing equipment, and for controlling the interface means.