Data storage device with code scanning capability
First Claim
1. A disk drive comprising:
- a processor and a memory for storing data and a program for the processor;
a nonvolatile memory for storing user data received from a host computer;
means for receiving, from the host computer, a scanning program for execution by the processor to scan data for harmful computer code in stored user data; and
means for signaling the host computer that harmful computer code has been found in stored user data, the means for signaling including means for sending a request for a diagnostic inquiry to the host computer and means for responding to the diagnostic inquiry by sending information to the host computer identifying the harmful computer code signature which was detected.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A disk drive according to the invention has a processor for executing a program for identifying harmful computer code (HCC). A communication protocol with the host computer according to the invention provides means for the host to control the HCC detection process, receive information about the HCC detection from the disk drive and preferably for the HCC detection program to be transmitted to the disk drive. In a preferred embodiment a disk drive has a scanning program for scanning data for harmful computer code (HCC) using a set of HCC signatures. In one embodiment, the disk drive has means for communicating with a controlling host computer which implements the HCC protocol and a user computer which does not implement the HCC protocol, to allow the user computer to be protected from HCC in a transparent way.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A disk drive comprising:
-
a processor and a memory for storing data and a program for the processor; a nonvolatile memory for storing user data received from a host computer; means for receiving, from the host computer, a scanning program for execution by the processor to scan data for harmful computer code in stored user data; and means for signaling the host computer that harmful computer code has been found in stored user data, the means for signaling including means for sending a request for a diagnostic inquiry to the host computer and means for responding to the diagnostic inquiry by sending information to the host computer identifying the harmful computer code signature which was detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method of operating a disk drive comprising the steps of:
-
receiving user data from a host computer; storing the user in a nonvolatile memory; receiving, from the host computer, a scanning program for execution by the disk drive to scan stored user data for harmful computer code; and executing the scanning program to scan selected blocks of user data for the set of harmful computer code and upon detecting a harmful computer code signaling the host computer that harmful computer code has been found in a block of user data by sending a request to the host computer for a diagnostic inquiry, then receiving a read diagnostic command from the host computer and then responding to the diagnostic inquiry from the host computer with information identifying the user data in which harmful computer code has been detected. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification