System and method for protecting data stored on a removable data storage device

• US 8,621,644 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Chan, Alistair K., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Wood, Victoria Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lipman, Jacob
• Application Number:
  US13/340,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20130174264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 726/26
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0246 in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1433 for a module or a part of a module
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0623 in relation to content
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0653 Monitoring storage devices or systems
• 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]

Abstract

A system for protecting data stored in a memory of a removable data storage device is provided. The system includes a personal electronic device, a removable solid state data storage device operatively coupled to the personal electronic device, and a circuit configured to protect data stored in a memory of the data storage device in response to detecting impending removal of the data storage device from the personal electronic device.

Claims

1. A system for protecting, from unauthorized access, data stored in a memory of a removable memory card, comprising:

a personal electronic device;

a removable solid state memory card operatively coupled to the personal electronic device; and

a circuit configured to protect, from unauthorized access, data stored in a memory of the memory card in response to detecting impending removal of the memory card from the personal electronic device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuit is disposed on the memory card.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuit is disposed at least partially on at least one of the personal electronic device and the memory card.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuit comprises a removal detection module, the removal detection module configured to detect impending removal of the memory card.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the removal detection module is configured to detect removal of a cover from the personal electronic device.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the removal detection module is configured to detect a differential acceleration between the personal electronic device and the memory card.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the removal detection module is configured to detect exposure to light.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the personal electronic device comprises a light dependent resistor disposed beneath the memory card such that the light dependent resistor is substantially shielded from available light when the memory card is in an installed position.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the removal detection module is configured to detect a change in orientation of the memory card relative to the personal electronic device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuit comprises a data protection module configured to protect at least some of the data stored in the memory of the memory card.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the personal electronic device comprises an energy module configured to provide power to the data protection module.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the data protection module comprises instructions for implementing the type of protection to be employed.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the data protection module is configured to protect a subset of the data stored in the memory of the memory card.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the data protection module is configured to delete at least some of the data stored in the memory of the memory card.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the data protection module is configured to prevent access to at least some of the data stored in the memory of the memory card.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the memory card comprises an energy module configured to provide power to the data protection module.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein energy is stored in the energy module after the memory card is placed into an installed position.

18. A removable memory card comprising:

a circuit configured to respond to detecting impending removal of the memory card from a personal electronic device by securing, from unauthorized access, data stored in a memory of the memory card.

19. The memory card of claim 18, wherein the circuit comprises a removal detection module, the removal detection module being configured to detect impending removal of the memory card.

20. The memory card of claim 19, wherein the removal detection module is configured to detect a change in mutual capacitance between the personal electronic device and the memory card.

21. The memory card of claim 19, wherein the removal detection module is configured to detect a change in mutual inductance between the personal electronic device and the memory card.

22. The memory card of claim 19, wherein the removal detection module is configured to detect exposure to light.

23. The memory card of claim 22 further comprising a photoelectric cell disposed on the memory card such that the photoelectric cell faces toward the personal electronic device when the memory card is in an installed position.

24. The memory card of claim 18, wherein the circuit comprises a data protection module configured to secure at least some of the data stored in the memory of the memory card.

25. The memory card of claim 24, wherein the data protection module responds to a signal from a removal detection module on the personal electronic device.

26. The memory card of claim 24, wherein the data protection module is configured to secure a subset of the data stored in the memory of the memory card.

27. The memory card of claim 26, wherein the subset of data comprises data stored in a designated memory location.

28. The memory card of claim 26, wherein the subset of data comprises information required for operation of the personal electronic device.

29. The memory card of claim 24, wherein the data protection module is configured to delete at least some of the data stored in the memory of the memory card.

30. The memory card of claim 24, wherein the data protection module is configured to overwrite at least some of the data stored in the memory of the memory card.

31. The memory card of claim 24, wherein the data protection module is configured to encrypt at least some of the data stored in the memory of the memory card.

32. The memory card of claim 24, wherein the data protection module is configured to introduce misleading data into at least some of the data stored in the memory of the memory card.

33. The memory card of claim 24, wherein the data protection module is configured to hide at least some of the data stored in the memory of the memory card.

34. The memory card of claim 24, wherein the data protection module is configured to prevent access to at least some of the data stored in the memory of the memory card.

35. The memory card of claim 24 further comprising an energy module configured to power the data protection module.

36. The memory card of claim 35, wherein energy is stored in the energy module prior to the data storage device being placed into an installed position.

37. The memory card of claim 35, wherein the energy module is configured to receive energy from the personal electronic device.

38. A method for securing data stored in a memory of a removable memory card, comprising:

detecting impending removal of the memory card from a personal electronic device; and

causing at least some of the data stored in a memory of the memory card to be secured, from unauthorized access, in response to detecting impending removal of the memory card.