Location sensitive solid state drive

• US 9,361,245 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2015
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comtech Systems, Inc. (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Jones, Rodyn, Vancouvering, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Zand, Kambiz
• Assistant Examiner(s): WYSZYNSKI, AUBREY H
• Application Number:
  US14/632,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20150186298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 726/27
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0246 in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1416 by checking the object accessibility, e.g. type of access defined by the memory independently of subject rights G06F12/1458 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1425 the protection being physical, e.g. cell, word, block
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/602 Providing cryptographic facilities or services
• 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 2212/455 Image or video data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/7209 Validity control, e.g. using flags, time stamps or sequence numbers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters

Abstract

A data storage system including a SSD includes a capability to detect whether its location is acceptable for function, and a capability to self-disable in the event the location of the device is unacceptable, or to self-enable only while the location of the device is acceptable.

Claims

1. A self-disabling, geo-secure data storage system, comprising:

a solid state drive (SSD);

a system disk interface (SDI) for connection of said solid state drive (SSD) to a host system;

an antenna and satellite lookup and determination system to detect a current location of said self-disabling, geo-secure data storage system; and

a controller to cause said solid state drive (SSD) to disable when said detected current location of said self-disabling, geo-secure data storage system determines that said self-disabling data storage system is currently outside a given permissible geographic area.

2. The self-disabling, geo-secure data storage system according to claim 1, wherein said antenna comprises:

a global positioning system (GPS) antenna.

3. The self-disabling, geo-secure data storage system according to claim 1, wherein:

said disable is caused by forced encryption of files maintained in said SSD.

4. The self-disabling, geo-secure data storage system according to claim 1, wherein said antenna comprises:

a LORAN antenna;

wherein a controller causes said SSD to disable when said satellite lookup and processing module determines said self-disabling data storage system to be outside a given permissible geographic area.

5. The self-disabling, geo-secure data storage system according to claim 1, wherein said antenna comprises:

an array of intra-building antennas;

wherein a controller causes said SSD to disable when said satellite lookup and processing module determines said self-disabling data storage system to be outside a given permissible geographic area.