Storage device capacity management

A capacity control system for securely managing available storage capacity of a memory device in a data processing system, the memory device including a data storage medium having a preselected section of a size representing the available capacity of the memory device, and verification information, including identification information uniquely identifying the memory device, stored in the memory device, the capacity control system comprising:

• (a) an authentication list comprising a plurality of entries containing information including information uniquely identifying a plurality of memory devices;
• (b) a host system configured by program instructions to performs steps including:
• in response to receipt in the host system of a request for changing the available capacity of the memory device:
• (1) sending an identification inquiry command to the memory device requesting verification information including said unique identification information;
• (2) searching said list to find an entry including identification information matching that obtained from the memory device to authorize said change;
• and
• (3) if a match is found, then:
• (i) generating a change command for directing the memory device to change said available capacity;
• and (ii) sending the change command to the memory device;
• and
• (c) a logic circuit in the memory device configured by program instructions to perform steps including:
• (i) in response to an identification inquiry command, providing said verification information including said identification information stored in the memory device;
• and
• (ii) in response to a change command, executing steps including changing the size of said section of the data storage medium.

In a data processing system comprising a remote host system, a local host system and a memory device including a data storage medium of a predetermined size and corresponding capacity, a secure method of managing available capacity of the storage medium, comprising the steps of:

• (a) maintaining an authentication list in the remote host system, the list comprising a plurality of entries containing information including information uniquely identifying a plurality of memory devices;
• (b) selecting a section of the storage medium for data storage, said section having a size representing the available capacity of the memory device;
• (c) maintaining verification information in the memory device including identification information uniquely identifying the memory device,
• (d) in response to receipt in the local host system of a request for changing the available capacity of the memory device:
• (1) obtaining verification information including said identifying information from said memory device;
• (2) sending the obtained verification information to the remote host system;
• (3) searching said list in the remote host system to find an entry including information matching that obtained from the memory device to authorize said change;
• and
• (4) if a match is found, then:
• (i) generating a change command in the local host system for directing the memory device to change said available capacity;
• (ii) sending the change command to the memory device;
• and (iii) the memory device executing said change command by changing the size of said section.

A capacity control system for securely managing available storage capacity of a memory device in a data processing system, the memory device comprising a data storage medium including a preselected section having a size representing the available capacity of the memory device, and verification information, including identification information uniquely identifying the memory device, stored in the memory device, the capacity control system comprising:

• (a) a remote host system configured by program instructions to perform steps including:
• (1) maintaining an authentication list therein comprising a plurality of entries containing information including information uniquely identifying a plurality of memory devices;
• (2) upon receiving an authentication request for authenticating verification information of a memory device, searching said list to find an entry containing information matching that requested;
• and
• (3) if a match is found, providing validation information in response to said request, otherwise providing rejection information in response to said request;
• (b) a local host system configured by program instructions to perform steps including:
• in response to receipt in the local host system of a request for changing the available capacity of the memory device:
• (1) sending an identification inquiry command to the memory device requesting verification information including said unique identification information;
• (2) sending an authentication request command to the remote host with the verification information including the identification information obtained from the memory device to authorize said change;
• and
• (3) upon receiving validation information from the remote host performing steps including:
• (i) generating a change command for directing the memory device to change said available capacity;
• and (ii) sending the change command to the memory device;
• and
• (c) a logic circuit in the memory device configured by program instructions to perform steps including:
• (1) in response to an identification inquiry command, providing said verification information stored in the memory device;
• and
• (2) in response to a change command, executing steps including changing the size of said section of the data storage medium.