US 8,276,188 B2Granted

Systems and methods for managing storage devices

AssigneeCondel International Technologies Inc.

InventorsChi-Yang Chou, Pei-Yen Chou, Yeu-Chung Lin

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing storage devices are provided. The functionalities of smart card and micro SD card are integrated into a storage device to expand the effective storage capacity. The system includes a storage device having a storage area, a microcontroller, and a microprocessor. The microcontroller receives an access request, determines whether the access request conforms to a specific protocol or whether the access request is requesting to activate the microprocessor, and transmits the access request to a microprocessor when the access request conforms to the specific protocol or when the access request is requesting to activate the microprocessor. The microprocessor executes a Card Operating System (COS), and manages the storage area by performing the access request based on the COS. Further, the segmentation of expanded storage space and independent management/security mechanism for segmented spaces also make it possible to perform multi-applications for different card organizations/issuers.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A system for managing storage devices, comprising:

a storage device, comprising:
a storage area;
a microprocessor;
and
a microcontroller receiving an access request, determining whether the access request conforms to a specific protocol or whether the access request is requesting to activate the microprocessor, and transmitting the access request to the microprocessor when the access request conforms to the specific protocol or when the access request is requesting to activate the microprocessor,
wherein the microprocessor executes a Card Operating System (COS), and directly manages the storage area without communicating through the microcontroller by performing the access request based on the COS;
wherein the storage area further comprises a public area, and the public area comprises a plurality of zones, each corresponding to a card organization and comprising related data for the card organization, and when the storage device is connected to an electronic device, the electronic device receives a selection of one of the card organizations, designates one of the zones in response to the selection, and accesses the related data from the designated zone via the microprocessor;
and
wherein the storage area further comprises a hidden area comprising a plurality of zones, each corresponding to one of the zones in the public area, and comprising a predetermined UID or keys, wherein the predetermined UID is used to authenticate the storage device, and the keys are used to encrypt the related data in the corresponding zone in the public area.

6 more elements

A method for managing storage devices, comprising:

providing a storage device comprising a storage area, a microcontroller, and a microprocessor:
receiving an access request by the microcontroller;
determining whether the access request conforms to a specific protocol or whether the access request is requesting to activate the microprocessor by the microcontroller;
when the access request conforms to the specific protocol or when the access request is requesting to activate the microprocessor, transmitting the access request to the microprocessor by the microcontroller;
executing a COS (Card Operating System) by the microprocessor;
and
directly managing the storage area without communicating through the microcontroller by performing the access request based on the COS by the microprocessor;
wherein the storage area further comprises a public area, and the public area comprises a plurality of zones, each corresponding to a card organization and comprising related data for the card organization, and the method further comprises steps of connecting the storage device to an electronic device, receiving a selection of one of the card organizations by the electronic device, designating one of the zones in response to the selection, and accessing the related data from the designated zone via the microprocessor;
and
wherein the storage area further comprises a hidden area comprising a plurality of zones, each corresponding to one of the zones in the public area, and comprising a predetermined UID or keys, wherein the predetermined UID is used to authenticate the storage device, and the keys are used to encrypt or decrypt the related data in the corresponding zone in the public area.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.