Method for partitioning memory mass storage device

• US 7,114,051 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2002
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solid State System Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Solid State System Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Yin Guei, Guu, Morris
• Primary Examiner(s): BATAILLE, PIERRE MICHE
• Application Number:
  US10/160,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20030225960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,578 Days
• Field of Search: 711/170, 711/171, 711/173, 711/202, 711/206, 711/207, 711/111, 711/112, 711/114
• US Class Current: 711/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1466 Key-lock mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• 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 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0664 at device level, e.g. emulation of a storage device or system

Abstract

A method for partitioning a memory mass storage device is disclosed. The partition task is performed by the controller within the memory mass storage device. Firstly, the controller partitions the logical space of the memory storage device into multiple areas, each area belonging to a particular drive. Secondly, the controller partitions the logical space of the memory storage device into a public area and a security area, both areas belonging to the same drive. Finally, the controller partitions the logical space of the memory storage device into multiple areas, which include public areas and security areas and belong to multiple drives.

Claims

1. A method for accessing a memory storage device under the direction of a controller within said memory storage device, comprising:

providing a removable memory storage device as said memory storage device, which includes a memory module having at least one memory chip;

partitioning a logical space into one security area and at least one public area;

storing partition information of said logical space into an information block within said memory module, said partition information including a password for accessing said security area;

reading said information block within said memory module into said controller, wherein said password within said information block is loaded into said controller;

executing a security management program in said host side for asking an end user to enter a password; and

responding to a host input password for accessing said security area, comparing said host input password with said password loaded into said controller,

wherein said public is accessed by said host after initial power-on while said security area is unable to be accessed by said host after initial power-on;

said security area of said particular drive being able to be accessed by said host after passing the password identification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said information block further comprised of the memory chip information, the number of drives, and the partition information of each drive.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said partition information of each drive is comprised of said security area starting address, length, and the attribute of the partitioned area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said memory module is also removable from said controller in said memory storage device and is selected from one of a group containing ROMs, PROMs, EEPROMs, flash memory and hard disks.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sizes of said security area or said public area are adjustable.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said security management program is stored in said public area.

7. A method for accessing a memory storage device partitioned under the direction of a controller within said memory storage device, comprising:

providing a removable memory storage device as the memory storage device, which includes a memory module having at least one memory chip;

partitioning a logical space into at least one security area and at least one public area;

storing partition information of said logical space into an information block within said memory module, said partition information including a password for accessing said security area;

reading said information block within said memory module into said controller after initial power-on, wherein said password within said information block is loaded into said controller;

storing partition information regarding said public area into said information block within said memory module;

reading said information block within said memory module into said controller after initial power-on;

responding to the host input for reading a basic information regarding said memory storage device according to the contents of said information block loaded into said controller,

wherein said public area is first accessed by said host after initial power-on;

responding to a host input password for accessing said security area, comparing said host input password with said password loaded into said controller,

wherein said security area is unable to be accessed by said host after initial power-on;

said security area is accessed by said host after passing the password identification.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said security management program is stored in said public area.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the method is applied to a drive having two sub-drives, each of the sub-drives has the public area and the security area.

10. A method for accessing a memory storage device partitioned under the direction of a controller within the removable memory storage device, the method comprising:

providing a removable memory storage device as the memory storage device, wherein the removable memory storage device including a memory module having at least one memory chip;

partitioning a logical space of the removable memory storage device into a public area and a security area by the controller, said security area being allocated to a drive for use with a host;

loading a partition information with respect to the security area into the controller, wherein an access password to the security area is also loaded into the controller;

executing a security management program for asking an end user to enter a password; and

when the host wants to access the security area at the first time, comparing the entered password with the access password stored in the controller to check whether or not a match occurs, and the host configures the security area based on a partition information made by the controller,

wherein the security area is accessed by the host only when the match occurs.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said security management program is stored in said public area.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the method is applied to a drive having two sub-drives, each of the sub-drives has the public area and the security area.

13. A method for partitioning a memory storage device under the direction of a controller within said memory storage device, the method comprising:

providing a removable memory storage device as the memory storage device, wherein the removable memory storage device includes a memory module having at least one memory chip,

partitioning a logical space into at least one security area, said security area being allocated to a particular drive for use with a host;

storing partition information of said logical space into an information block within said memory module, said partition information including a password for accessing said security area;

reading said information block within said memory module into said controller after initial power-on, wherein said password within said information block is loaded into said controller;

responding to a host input password for accessing said security area, comparing said host input password with said password loaded into said controller,

wherein said security area is unable to be accessed by said host after initial power-on;

said security area of said particular drive being able to be accessed by said host after passing the password identification;

partitioning said logical space into at least one public area, said public area being allocated to said particular drive for use with said host;

storing partition information regarding said public area of said particular drive into said information block within said memory module;

reading said information block within said memory module into said controller after initial power-on; and

responding to the host input for reading a basic information regarding said memory storage device according to the contents of said information block loaded into said controller,

wherein said public area of said particular drive is able to be accessed by said host after initial power-on.