Method and device for providing hidden storage in non-volatile memory

• US 20040078511A1
• Filed: 09/26/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James R. Vogt, John P. Brizek, Robert N. Hasbun
• Original Assignee: James R. Vogt, John P. Brizek, Robert N. Hasbun
• Inventors: Brizek, John P., Hasbun, Robert N., Vogt, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,062,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1466 Key-lock mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/2022 Flash memory

Abstract

A method and device for providing hidden storage in non-volatile memory. A memory device is disclosed comprising a main flash array. A hidden storage area is connected to the main flash array. The hidden storage area can not be accessed without a valid password according to the present memory device.

Claims

1. A memory device comprising:

a main flash array; and

a hidden storage area connected to the main flash array, wherein the hidden storage area can not be accessed without a valid password.

2. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the hidden storage:

area comprises one or more hidden storage memory banks.

3. The memory device of claim 2, wherein the hidden storage memory banks are divided into one or more user spaces and a password space.

4. The memory device of claim 3, wherein the valid password allows accesses to only one of the user spaces.

5. The memory device of claim 2, wherein the hidden storage memory banks include a swap space to copy data between the hidden storage memory banks.

6. The memory device of claim 2, wherein the hidden storage area further comprises a bank selector to select a hidden storage memory bank.

7. The memory device of claim 2, wherein the hidden storage area further comprises an output bus gate to prevent access to the hidden storage memory banks.

8. The memory device of claim 7, wherein the hidden storage area further comprises an address decoder to open the output bus gate when provided the valid password and a valid memory address within the hidden storage memory banks.

9. The memory device of claim 8, wherein the valid memory address is provided by a host.

10. The memory device of claim 7, wherein the hidden storage area further comprises a valid password register to indicate a password has been verified by an internal processor.

11. The memory device of claim 10, wherein the hidden storage area further comprises a bad password counter, to count the number of times the internal process is unable to verify the password.

12. A method, comprising:

storing one or more valid passwords in a hidden storage memory bank;

writing a password from a host into the hidden storage memory bank; and

verifying the validity of the written password against the valid stored passwords.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising permitting access to read from the hidden storage memory bank if the password is verified.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising permitting access to write to the hidden storage memory bank if the password is verified;

and a valid address in the hidden storage memory bank is provided.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising dividing the hidden storage memory block into one or more user spaces, a password space, and a swap space.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising writing a recovery password that allows a bad password counter to be reset.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising writing a system administrator password that allows the hidden storage memory bank, a recovery password, and a bad password counter to be reset.

18. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform:

storing one or more valid passwords in a hidden storage memory bank;

writing a password from a host into the hidden storage memory bank; and

verifying the validity of the written password against the valid stored passwords.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform permitting access to read from the hidden storage memory bank if the password is verified.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform permitting access to write to the hidden storage memory bank if the password is verified;

and a valid address in the hidden storage memory bank is provided.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform dividing the hidden storage memory block into one or more user spaces, a password space, and a swap space.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform writing a recovery password that allows a bad password counter to be reset.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 having stored thereon additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform writing a system administrator password that allows the hidden storage memory bank, a recovery password, and a bad password counter to be reset.