US 2018/0062850 A1 · Data Security System That Uses a Repeatable Magnetic Signature as a Weak Entropy Source

Abstract

Apparatus and method for data security in a data storage device. In some embodiments, an alternating pattern is written to a magnetic recording medium as a sequence of symbols at a selected clock rate. A repeatable magnetic signature is generated by reading the alternating pattern from the medium, the magnetic signature having relatively weak entropy at boundaries of the symbols. A multi-bit digital sequence is extracted from the repeatable magnetic signature, the digital sequence having relatively strong entropy. The digital sequence is stored in a separate memory coupled to the medium. Access to data stored on the medium is authenticated responsive to the digital sequence stored in the separate memory.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

writing an alternating pattern as a sequence of symbols at a selected clock rate to a magnetic recording medium;
generating a repeatable magnetic signature by reading the alternating pattern from the medium, the magnetic signature having relatively weak entropy at boundaries of the symbols;
extracting a multi-bit digital sequence having relatively strong entropy responsive to the repeatable magnetic signature;
storing the digital sequence in a separate memory coupled to the medium;
and
authenticating access to data stored on the medium responsive to the digital sequence stored in the separate memory.

3 more elements

An apparatus comprising:

a data storage device comprising a housing which encloses a rotatable magnetic recording medium adjacent a moveable read/write transducer and a control circuit which directs the transducer to write an alternating magnetic pattern to a selected location on the medium as a sequence of symbols at a selected clock rate and to subsequently read the alternating pattern to form a repeatable magnetic signature having relatively weak entropy at boundaries of the symbols;
an extraction circuit configured to extract a multi-bit digital sequence having relatively strong entropy responsive to the repeatable magnetic signature;
and
a control circuit physically connected to the data storage device configured to store the digital signature in a separate memory, and configured to subsequently authenticate access to data stored on the medium responsive to the digital sequence stored in the separate memory.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Data Security System That Uses a Repeatable Magnetic Signature as a Weak Entropy Source

Life of this patent

Data Security System That Uses a Repeatable Magnetic Signature as a Weak Entropy Source

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20