Method and device for securely storing data

• US 6,865,515 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FLIR Commercial Systems Incorporated (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Engius, LLC
• Inventors: Fox, Michael J., Aker, Craig A., Dock, Matthew, Trost, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US10/351,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20030235306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 702/187, 702/33, 702/35, 702/42, 702/64, 711/100, 710/13, 710/15
• US Class Current: 702/187
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/383 Concrete, cement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32

Abstract

A system that includes a logger to record mechanical data for a concrete mass and to transmit the mechanical data to a reader. The system includes sensors, a microprocessor and a first memory device embedded in the concrete mass for generating mechanical strength data for the concrete mass and storing that information in the first memory device. In one embodiment the mechanical data is encrypted to prevent third parties from downloading and reading the data. In another embodiment, the logger communicates with the reader through communication wires. In yet another embodiment, the logger transfers data files to the reader by radio frequency signals.

Claims

1. A system for storing non-sensor data, comprising:

an anchoring apparatus for ensuring that non-sensor data are not removed from a tamper-resistant environment;

a first memory device for storing the non-sensor data, wherein the first memory device is anchored within the anchoring apparatus;

a reader positioned external to the anchoring apparatus;

an inbound data transfer device loading the non-sensor data into the first memory device from the reader; and

an outbound data transfer device for transferring the non-sensor data from the first memory device to the reader.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising means for uniquely identifying the first memory device of the system.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the means for uniquely identifying the first memory device of the system comprises a serial number stored within the first memory device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the anchoring apparatus comprises a concrete mass and wherein the first memory device is embedded within the concrete mass.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising prescribed marks for indicating the depth of embedment of the first memory device within the concrete mass.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a protective means for protecting the first memory device from exposure to damage.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the protective means comprises a first case located inside a second case.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising a spacer apparatus to provide spacing between the outer case and the first memory device.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising a spacer apparatus to provide spacing between the outer case and the first memory device.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the spacer apparatus comprises a plurality of tabs extending from a plate.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the spacer apparatus comprises a plurality of tabs extending from a plate.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the outbound data transfer device comprises a serial interface.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising communication wires for transferring the data to the external device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the wires use a Z-bend configuration within the hardened encasement to prevent the occurrence of high stress concentrations in the wires.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the wires comprise different-colored wires color-coded to match the colors of receiving ports of the external device.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising a visual differentiation feature.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the visual differentiation feature comprises a colored outer case and wherein a particular color corresponds to a model of the system.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the first memory device is selected from a group of memory devices consisting of flash memory and an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory).

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the second memory device is chosen from a group of memory devices consisting of flash memory and an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the outbound data transfer device is selected from a group of data transfer devices consisting of an electrical wire interface, a low power serial link, an optical wire interface, a radio frequency interface, an acoustic interface, an inductive loop interface, and an inductive radio frequency interface.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the outbound data transfer device comprises a low-power serial link comprising wires having ends and wherein the external device comprises a receiving port for receiving the wires.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the wires terminate without a connector to mate with a female receptacle of the external device.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein the type of said non-sensor data is selected from a group of data types consisting of location information, a project identifier, time-related data, mix design information, datum temperature, reference temperature, activation energy, and a threshold value.

24. The system of claim 1 wherein said inbound data transfer device is selected from a group of data transfer devices consisting of an electrical wire interface, coaxial cable, a low-power serial link, an optical wire interface, a radio frequency interface, an acoustic interface, an inductive loop interface, and an inductive radio frequency interface and said outbound data transfer device is selected from a group of data transfer devices consisting of an electrical wire interface, coaxial cable, a low-power serial link, an optical wire interface, a radio frequency interface, an acoustic interface, an inductive loop interface, and an inductive radio frequency interface.

25. The system of claim 1 further comprising a link to a global positioning system for recording the position of the first memory device.

26. The system of claim 1 wherein the first memory device further comprises a link to a clock for receiving time data.

27. A system for storing data in a tamper-resistant environment and transferring said data to an external device, comprising:

a permanent anchoring apparatus for ensuring data are not removed from the tamper-resistant environment;

a first memory device for storing the data, wherein the first memory device is anchored within the permanent anchoring apparatus;

an inbound data transfer device for loading the data into the first memory device;

an outbound data transfer device for transferring the data from the first memory device to the second memory device; and

protective means for protecting the first memory device from exposure to damage, the protective means comprising a first case located inside a second case.

28. The system of claim 27 further comprising a visual differentiation feature.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the visual differentiation feature comprises a colored outer case and wherein a particular color corresponds to a model of the system.

30. A system for storing data in a tamper-resistant environment and transferring said data to an external device, comprising:

a permanent anchoring apparatus for ensuring data are not removed from the tamper-resistant environment;

a first memory device for storing the data, wherein the first memory device is anchored within the permanent anchoring apparatus;

an inbound data transfer device for loading the data into the first memory device; and

an outbound data transfer device for transferring the data from the first memory device to the external device, the outbound data transfer device comprising communication wires for transferring the data to the external device, the communication wires having a Z-bend configuration within a hardened encasement to prevent the occurrence of high stress concentrations in the wires.

31. A system for storing data in a tamper-resistant environment and transferring said data to an external device, comprising:

a permanent anchoring apparatus for ensuring data are not removed from the tamper-resistant environment;

a first memory device for storing the data, wherein the first memory device is anchored within the permanent anchoring apparatus;

an inbound data transfer device for loading the data into the first memory device; and

an outbound data transfer device for transferring the data from the first memory device to the external device, the outbound data transfer device comprising communication wires for transferring the data to the external device, the communication wires comprising different-colored wires color-coded to match the colors of receiving ports of the external device.

32. A system for storing data in a tamper-resistant environment and transferring said data to an external device, comprising:

a permanent anchoring apparatus for ensuring data are not removed from the tamper-resistant environment;

a first memory device for storing the data, wherein the first memory device is anchored within the permanent anchoring apparatus;

an inbound data transfer device for loading the data into the first memory device; and

an outbound data transfer device for transferring the data from the first memory device to the external device, the outbound data transfer device comprising communication wires for transferring the data to the external device, the communication wires terminate without a connector to mate with a female receptacle of an external device.

33. A method for storing data in a tamper-resistant environment comprising the steps of:

placing a memory device within a permanent anchoring apparatus, the memory device being protected from exposure to damage by way of a first case located inside a second case;

loading data into the memory device; and

transferring data from the memory device.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the permanent anchoring apparatus comprises a concrete mass.

35. A method for storing data in a tamper-resistant environment comprising the steps of:

placing a memory device within a permanent anchoring apparatus;

connecting the memory device to an external device by way of communication wires that terminate without a connector to mate with a female receptacle of the external device;

loading data into the memory device; and

transferring data from the memory device.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the permanent anchoring apparatus comprises a concrete mass.