Memory device upgrade

• US 8,428,649 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2008
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2008
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sandisk Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Yan, Mei, Chang, Robert C., Sabet-Sharghi, Farshid, Yuan, Po, Qawami, Bahman
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Fayyaz
• Application Number:
  US12/229,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20100048169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,707 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455418-420, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/558, 726 1- 9, 726 26- 32, 717168-173
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• 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 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0622 in relation to access
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0647 Migration mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading

Abstract

Technology for replacing a first storage unit operatively coupled to a device is provided. Content of the first storage unit is sent to a new storage unit that serves as the replacement of the first storage unit. In one embodiment, the content is first sent to a trusted third-party server and then transferred from the server to the new storage unit. A portion of the content on the new storage unit is adjusted in one embodiment to maintain content security features that were implemented in the first storage unit. The upgrading can be performed under the control of a software entity that is installed on the device. In various embodiments, the first storage unit may be bound to a third storage unit prior to the upgrade process. In such cases, the process can include measures to bind the new storage unit to the third storage unit.

Claims

1. A method for upgrading a storage device, comprising:

performing by a host device, in response to receiving a request to replace a first storage unit with a new storage unit, the first storage unit storing first content and being bound to a third storage unit based on one or more binding types prior to receiving the request, the first storage unit being replaceable by the new storage unit in being removeably coupled to the host device, and the third storage unit being removeably coupled to the host device;

obtaining the first content stored originally in the first storage unit;

sending the first content to the new storage unit;

modifying a portion of the first content in the new storage unit based on the one or more binding types so as to bind the new storage unit to the third storage unit; and

modifying second content in the third storage unit based on the one or more binding types.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending the first content of the first storage unit to a server, the sending the first content to the server being performed by the host device prior to sending the first content to the new storage unit;

notifying a user to remove the first storage unit from the host device and insert the new storage unit in the host device after the first content is sent to the server; and

receiving in the host device the first content from the server;

wherein sending the first content to the new storage unit comprises sending the first content received from the server to the new storage unit.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the sending the first content to the server comprises:

encrypting the first content in the host device; and

sending an encrypted version of the first content from the host device to the server.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the sending the first content to the new storage unit comprises:

decrypting the encrypted version of the first content, the decrypting is performed by the host device, and

storing the first content in the new storage unit.

5. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

deleting the first content from the first storage unit prior to notifying the user to remove the first storage unit from the host device, the deleting is performed by the host device; and

notifying the server to delete the first content in the server, the notifying is performed by the host device after receiving the first content from the server.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein:

the sending the first content to the server and the receiving the first content being performed through a mobile network.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the first storage unit is a Subscriber Identity Module card;

the first content includes credentials that provide access to content on the third storage unit including access to the second content; and

wherein the one or more binding types indicate a particular identifier and wherein the credentials are based on one or more identification values corresponding to the particular identifier.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the modifying second content comprises:

accessing the second content in the third storage unit using an existing credential from the first content, the second content having a binding type that indicates the one or more identification values identify the first storage unit;

determining a new account identifier using one or more identification values that identify the new storage unit;

sending the new account identifier to the new storage unit;

receiving a new credential from the new storage unit, the new credential is generated by the new storage unit using the new account identifier; and

associating the second content with the new account identifier and the new credential, the new credential providing access to the second content.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the step of modifying a portion of the first content comprises:

deleting the existing credential; and

saving the new credential.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the first storage unit is a removable non-volatile memory card;

the third storage unit is a Subscriber Identity Module card;

the first content includes files, existing accounts associated with the files, and information associated with a configuration of the files;

the second content includes credentials that provide access to the files; and

the one or more binding types indicate a particular identifier, the credentials being based on one or more identification values corresponding to the particular identifier.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the receiving in the host device a request to replace a first storage unit comprises:

receiving an indication that the new storage unit is inserted in the host device.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

sending a first identification value obtained from the new storage unit to a server, the sending the first identification value being performed by the host device;

notifying a user to remove the new storage unit from the host device and insert the first storage unit, the notifying performed by the host device;

sending the first content of the first storage unit to the server, the sending the first content to the server being performed by the host device prior to sending the first content to the new storage unit;

notifying a user to remove the first storage unit from the host device and insert the new storage unit in the host device after the first content is sent to the server, the notifying the user to remove the first storage unit being performed by the host device;

sending to the server a second identification value obtained from the new storage unit inserted in the host device after notifying the user to insert the new storage unit in the host device;

verifying whether the first identification value matches the second identification value, the verifying being performed by the server.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the sending the first content to the new storage unit comprises:

creating new accounts in the new storage unit including creating a new account for each existing account in the first content;

associating permissions of the existing accounts to the new accounts, the permissions indicate access to particular files; and

saving the files in the new storage unit based on the information associated with the configuration of the files.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the modifying a portion of the first content comprises:

accessing a first new account associated with the portion of the first content, the portion of the first content being associated with a binding type that indicates the one or more identification values identify the first storage unit;

determining a new account identifier using one or more identification values that identify the new storage unit;

sending the new account identifier to the third storage unit;

receiving a new credential from the third storage unit, the new credential being generated by the third storage unit using the new account identifier; and

associating the new credential and the new account identifier with the first new account, the new credential provides access to the portion of the first content.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the modifying second content comprises:

saving the new credential; and

deleting an existing credential associated with an existing account for the portion of the first content.

16. A method for upgrading a storage device, comprising:

sending a credential from a first storage unit to a server, the first storage unit being removeably coupled to a host device, the step of sending a credential to the server being controlled by a software entity on the host device;

receiving a notification that the first storage unit has been removed from the host device and that a removeably coupled new storage unit has been coupled to the host device, the receiving of a notification being controlled by the software entity;

receiving the credential from the server, the receiving the credential being controlled by the software entity; and

sending the credential to the new storage unit, the sending the credential to the new storage unit being controlled by the software entity.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein:

the credential provides access to a third storage unit that is operatively coupled to the host device, the first storage unit being associated with the third storage unit through one or more binding types prior to the new storage unit being operatively coupled to the host device.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

accessing content in the third storage unit using the credential, the content being associated with the first storage unit by an identification value that identifies the first storage unit;

determining a new account identifier using an identification value that identifies the new storage unit;

sending the new account identifier to the new storage unit;

receiving a new credential from the new storage unit, the new credential being generated using the new account identifier; and

associating the content with the new account identifier and the new credential, the new credential providing the access to the content.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

creating a new account for an existing account associated with the content including creating the new account with permissions associated with the existing account, the existing account being associated with the first storage unit and the new account being associated with the new storage unit.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein:

the content being associated with an identification value that identifies the new storage unit.

21. A method according to claim 16, further comprising:

notifying a user to operatively couple the new storage unit to the host device, the notifying being controlled by the software entity.

22. A method for upgrading a storage device, comprising:

accessing content on a first storage unit that is removeably coupled to a host device, using one or more credentials in a second storage unit, that is removeably coupled to the host device, the second storage unit being associated with the first storage unit based on the one or more credentials, the accessing content being controlled by a software entity on the host device;

sending the content under control of the software entity to a new storage unit after the new storage unit is operatively coupled to the host device; and

notifying the second storage unit to generate one or more new credentials that associate the content with the new storage unit, the one or more new credentials providing access to the content, the notifying being performed by the software entity.

23. A method according to claim 22, further comprising:

creating accounts associated with the content in the new storage unit based on the one or more new credentials.

24. A method according to claim 22, further comprising:

providing to a server a first identification value obtained from the new storage unit, the providing being performed by the software entity;

notifying a user to remove the new storage unit from operative coupling with the host device and to operatively couple the first storage unit to the host device after the first identification value being provided to the server; and

providing the content from the first storage unit to the server.

25. A method according to claim 24, further comprising:

notifying the user to operatively couple the new storage unit to the host device after the content of the first storage unit being provided to the server;

receiving the content from the server under control of the software entity;

wherein sending the content under control of the software entity to the new storage unit comprises sending the content received from the server.

26. A method according to claim 24, further comprising:

providing to the server a second identification value obtained from the new storage unit after notifying the user to operatively couple the new storage unit in the host device;

verifying whether the first identification value matches the second identification value, the verifying being performed by the server.

27. A method according to claim 22, wherein:

the content includes files and permissions associated with the files.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the sending the content to the new storage unit comprises:

encrypting the files if the permissions indicate the files should be encrypted; and

saving an encrypted version of the files in the new storage unit.