Removable storage device

• US 7,865,659 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2008
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Chellamuthu, Senthil Kumar, Ramesh, Ahuja Gurmukhsingh
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Kevin L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bertram; Ryan
• Application Number:
  US12/115,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20080270724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 711/103, 711/163, 710/302
• US Class Current: 711/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1433 for a module or a part of a module
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/45 Structures or tools for the administration of authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• 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 2212/1052 Security improvement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0822 using key encryption key
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0863 involving passwords or one-time passwords network architectures or network communication protocols for using one-time keys in a packet data network H04L63/067
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/14 using a plurality of keys or algorithms

Abstract

In an embodiment, when a removable storage device is removably coupled to a host, the removable storage device indicates that it is non-removable to the host. The removable storage device may include a user-created secure storage area.

Claims

1. A method of operating a removable storage device, comprising:

when the removable storage device is removably coupled to a host, indicating to the host that the removable storage device is non-removable.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein indicating to the host that the removable storage device is non-removable is in response to an inquiry from the host.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising instructing the host to prompt the user to select an application to be executed automatically by the host each time the removable storage device is subsequently removably coupled to the host.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein instructing the host to prompt the user to select an application to be executed automatically occurs in response to a first time the removable storage device is removably coupled to the host.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the application is listed in a file stored in the removable storage device.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the application is stored in the removable storage device or the host.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising encrypting data received at the removable storage device before storing the data in a secure storage area of the removable storage device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing information in a secure storage area of the removable storage device only in response to receiving vendor unique commands at the removable storage device.

9. A secure storage system, comprising:

a removable storage device; and

a device port for coupling the removable storage device to a host, the removable storage device configured to indicate to the host that the removable storage device is non-removable.

10. The secure storage system of claim 9, wherein the device port is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector.

11. The secure storage system of claim 9, wherein the removable storage device is configured to indicate to the host that the removable storage device is non-removable in response to an inquiry from the host.

12. The secure storage system of claim 9, wherein the removable storage device is configured to encrypt secure data prior to storage in a secure storage area of the removable storage device.

13. The secure storage system of claim 9, wherein the removable storage device is configured so that a secure storage area of the removable storage device can be marked as hidden by the host.

14. The secure storage system of claim 9, wherein the removable storage device is configured to prevent the host from assigning a drive name to a secure storage area of the removable storage device.

15. The secure storage system of claim 9, wherein the removable storage device is configured so that a secure storage area of the removable storage device is only accessible using vendor-unique commands.

16. The secure storage system of claim 9, wherein the removable storage device further comprises a master boot record configured to include information about a number and/or size of storage areas of the removable storage device.

17. The secure storage system of claim 16, wherein the master boot record is a read only memory.

18. The secure storage system of claim 9, wherein the removable storage device is configured to create a secure storage area within the removable storage device in response to user inputs to the host.

19. A removable storage device, comprising:

a public storage area; and

a port for coupling the removable storage device to a host;

wherein the removable storage device is configured to indicate to the host that the removable storage device is non-removable in response to an inquiry from the host; and

wherein the removable storage device is configured to create a secure storage area within the removable storage device in response to user inputs to the host.

20. The removable storage device of claim 19, wherein the public storage area contains software for creating the secure storage area.

21. The secure storage system of claim 19, wherein the removable storage device further comprises a read only memory configured to include information about a number and/or size of storage areas of the removable storage device, including the public storage area and the secure storage area.

22. The secure storage system of claim 19, wherein the removable storage device is further configured to prevent the host from assigning a drive name to the secure storage area.

23. The secure storage system of claim 19, wherein the removable storage device is further configured so that the secure storage area is only accessible using vendor-unique commands.