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

• US 9,355,044 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2014
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• 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:
  US14/523,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20150058543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 726/26
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 removable data storage device 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 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 data stored in a removable data storage device, comprising:

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 the data storage device in response to detecting impending removal of the data storage device from the personal electronic device;

wherein the circuit includes a data protection module configured to protect a first portion of the data at a first level of protection and a second portion of the data at a second level of protection different from the first level.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the personal electronic device comprises at least one of a mobile phone, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant, and a pager.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the personal electronic device comprises at least one of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and a handheld computer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the personal electronic device comprises at least one of a camera and an audio recording device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the removable data storage device comprises a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the removable data storage device comprises at least one of a Secure Digital (SD) memory card, an integrated circuit (IC) memory, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive, a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC), and a Removable User Identity Module (R-UIM).

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuit is disposed on the personal electronic device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuit is disposed on the data storage device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuit comprises a removal detection module, the removal detection module configured to detect impending removal of the data storage device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first level of protection includes at least one of altering, deleting, overwriting, encrypting, hiding, increasing a level of encryption of, introducing false data into, introducing misleading data into, preventing access to, requiring a password for, and designating requiring a password for the first portion of the data.

11. A removable data storage device comprising:

a circuit configured to respond to detecting impending removal of the removable data storage device from a personal electronic device by protecting data stored in the removable data storage device;

wherein the circuit includes a data protection module configured to protect a first portion of the data at a first level of protection and a second portion of the data at a second level of protection different from the first level.

12. The removable data storage device of claim 11, wherein the removable data storage device comprises a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).

13. The removable data storage device of claim 11, wherein the removable data storage device comprises at least one of a Secure Digital (SD) memory card, an integrated circuit (IC) memory, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive, a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC), and a Removable User Identity Module (R-UIM).

14. The removable data storage device of claim 11, wherein the circuit comprises a removal detection module, the removal detection module being configured to detect impending removal of the removable data storage device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first level of protection includes at least one of altering, deleting, overwriting, encrypting, hiding, increasing a level of encryption of, introducing false data into, introducing misleading data into, preventing access to, requiring a password for, and designating requiring a password for the first portion of the data.

16. A personal electronic device, comprising:

a circuit configured to protect data stored in a removable solid state data storage device in response to detecting impending removal of the data storage device from the personal electronic device;

wherein the circuit includes a data protection module configured to protect a first portion of the data at a first level of protection and a second portion of the data at a second level of protection different from the first level.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first level of protection includes at least one of altering, deleting, overwriting, encrypting, hiding, increasing a level of encryption of, introducing false data into, introducing misleading data into, preventing access to, requiring a password for, and designating requiring a password for the first portion of the data.

18. The personal electronic device of claim 16, wherein the personal electronic device comprises at least one of a mobile phone, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant, and a pager.

19. The personal electronic device of claim 16, wherein the personal electronic device comprises at least one of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and a handheld computer.

20. The personal electronic device of claim 16, wherein the personal electronic device comprises at least one of a camera and an audio recording device.

21. The personal electronic device of claim 16, wherein the circuit comprises a removal detection module, the removal detection module configured to detect impending removal of the data storage device from the personal electronic device.

22. The personal electronic device of claim 21, wherein the removal detection module is configured to detect disruption of a magnetic link between the personal electronic device and the data storage device.

23. The personal electronic device of claim 21, wherein the removal detection module is configured to detect a change in mutual capacitance between the personal electronic device and the data storage device.

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

25. The personal electronic device of claim 21, wherein the removal detection module is configured to detect a differential acceleration between the personal electronic device and the data storage device.

26. The personal electronic device of claim 21, wherein the removal detection module is configured to detect a change in temperature.

27. The personal electronic device of claim 21, wherein the removal detection module is configured to detect exposure to light.

28. The personal electronic device of claim 21, wherein the removal detection module is configured to detect making of an electrical contact.

29. The personal electronic device of claim 21, wherein the removal detection module is configured to detect making of a mechanical contact.

30. The personal electronic device of claim 21, wherein the removal detection module is configured to detect removal of a cover from the personal electronic device.

31. The personal electronic device of claim 21, wherein the removal detection module is configured to detect breaking of an electrical contact.

32. The personal electronic device of claim 31, wherein the electrical contact couples the personal electronic device to the data storage device.

33. The personal electronic device of claim 31, wherein the electrical contact is configured such that the electrical contact must be broken in order to physically access the data storage device.

34. The personal electronic device of claim 21, wherein the removal detection module is configured to detect breaking of a mechanical contact.

35. The personal electronic device of claim 34, wherein the mechanical contact couples the personal electronic device to the data storage device.

36. The personal electronic device of claim 34, wherein the mechanical contact is configured such that the mechanical contact must be broken in order to physically access the data storage device.