Secure module recorder system and method

• US 7,970,975 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2007
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sekai Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sekai Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Nilsson, Mattias E., Sekine, Masakazu, Klementowski, Lawrence J., Dye, Timothy A., Yamaguchi, Toshimitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Sorrell; Eron J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan; Dean
• Application Number:
  US11/828,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20090027795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,434 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/09 Digital recording

Abstract

Embodiments of a secure module recorder system and method for securing recording and storing of information is provided. The system may include at least one secure module and a docking station having at least one receptacle for holding one of the secure modules. The secure module may include a tamper-resistant case, an input port for receiving an analog signal, a recording circuit for converting the analog signal into digitally formatted data, a memory device for storing the digitally formatted data, a playback circuit for reading the digitally formatted data from the memory device and converting the digitally formatted data into an analog playback signal, and an output port for transmitting the analog playback signal. The docking station may further include a first interface for receiving the analog signal from an external device and a second interface disposed within the receptacle for interfacing with the input port of the secure module.

Claims

1. A system for securely storing information and conveying it to a monitor, comprising:

at least two removable secure modules each including

a tamper-resistant case having a plurality of fasteners,

a tamper evident seal to cover at least one of the fasteners of the tamper-resistant case,

an input port to receive an analog input signal within the case,

a recording circuit disposed within the tamper-resistant case to convert the analog signal into digitally formatted data,

a memory device disposed with the tamper-resistant case responsive to the recording circuit to store the digitally formatted data,

a playback circuit disposed within the tamper-resistant case to read the digitally formatted data from the memory device and to convert the digitally formatted data into an analog playback signal,

an output port to transmit the analog playback signal outside the case;

a docking station having at least two receptacles configured to hold the secure modules and to communicate with the input ports of the secure modules;

a distribution circuit configured to distribute the analog input signal via the receptacles to the secure modules simultaneously, and to distribute different analog input signals simultaneously to each one of the secure modules via the receptacles, and to distribute the analog input signals to only one of the secure modules via the receptacles;

an accessory having a module connector to attach to the output port of one of the secure modules when it is removed from the docking station, and having one power cable to supply electrical power to said one of the secure modules to power it as a stand alone unit, the accessory having another cable to connect to the monitor and still another cable to connect to a remote control unit; and

wherein the recording circuit adds digital watermark within the digitally formatted data being converted.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the docking station includes an allocation circuit adapted to receive at least one control signal and provide a control input to the distribution circuit to determine the desired one or more of the secured modules to receive the received signal via the distribution circuit and having

a first interface to receive the analog signal from an external device;

and

second interfaces disposed within the receptacles to interface with the input ports of the secure modules.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the recording circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the playback circuit includes a digit-to-analog converter.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the case is suitable for use in a harsh environment.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the secure module further includes an input/output circuit to receive the signal from the input port and to transmit the playback analog signal to the output port.

7. The system according to claim 2, wherein the input port and the output port are included on a single input/output connector for the secure module.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the input/output connector for the secure module is adapted to connect with the second interface of the docking station.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the docking station includes an audio/video distribution module.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the docking station includes a secure module allocation module.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the docking station includes a power loss detector module.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the docking station includes a voltage converter and regulator module.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the recording circuit adds a time stamp within the digitally formatted data being converted.