Method and system for protecting data, storage device, and storage device controller

A data protection method, for protecting data stored in a storage device when a host accesses the data, the data protection method comprising:

• receiving at least one reading instruction from the host by a storage device controller in the storage device;
• executing the at least one reading instruction by the storage device controller in the storage device;
• after executing the at least one reading instruction by the storage device controller, determining whether the host performs a play operation or a copy operation on the data stored in the storage device by the storage device controller in the storage device;
• if the storage device controller determines that the host performs the play operation on the data, continuously executing the play operation on the storage device so as to allow the host to access the data by the storage device controller;
• and
• if the storage device controller determines that the host performs the copy operation on the data, executing an interference procedure to interfere the data stored in the storage device from being copied into the host by the storage device controller,
• wherein the step of determining whether the host performs the play operation or the copy operation on the data stored in the storage device comprises:
• defining a first data quantity and a second data quantity according to a type of a transmission interface between the host and the storage device, wherein the second data quantity is larger than the first data quantity;
• determining that the host performs the play operation on the data when a difference between a data reading quantity of the host and the first data quantity is smaller than a difference between the data reading quantity and the second data quantity;
• and
• determining that the host performs the copy operation on the data when the difference between the data reading quantity and the first data quantity is larger than the difference between the data reading quantity and the second data quantity.

A data protection system, comprising:

• a host;
• and
• a storage device, comprising:
• a storage unit, for storing a data;
• and
• a storage device controller in the storage device, coupled to the storage unit,
• wherein when the host is coupled to the storage device to access the data, the storage device controller receives at least one reading instruction from the host, executes the reading instruction, and determines whether the host performs a play operation or a copy operation on the data stored in the storage device after executing the reading instruction,
• if the storage device controller determines that the host performs the play operation on the data, the storage device controller continues to execute the play operation so as to allow the host to access the data,
• if the storage device controller determines that the host performs the copy operation on the data, the storage device controller executes an interference procedure so as to prevent or retard the data stored in the storage device from being copied into the host,
• wherein the storage device controller determines that the host performs the copy operation on the data when a total number of the at least one reading instruction is larger than or equal to a predetermined number and all read data lengths respectively corresponding to the at least one reading instruction are larger than a predetermined length.

An external storage device, comprising:

• a connector;
• a storage unit, divided into at least a first storage space and a second storage space, wherein the first storage space and the second storage space respectively store a data;
• and
• a storage device controller in the external storage device, coupled to the connector and the storage unit,
• wherein when a host is coupled to the external storage device through the connector to read the data stored in the first storage space, the storage device controller receives at least one reading instruction from the host, executes the reading instruction, and determines whether the host performs a play operation or a copy operation on the data stored in the first storage space after executing the reading instruction, wherein if the storage device controller determines that the host performs the play operation on the data, the storage device controller continues to execute the play operation on the external storage device so as to allow the host to access the data, and if the storage device controller determines that the host performs the copy operation on the data, the storage device controller executes an interference procedure to interfere the data stored in the first storage space from being copied into the host,
• when the host is coupled to the external storage device through the connector to read the data stored in the second storage space, the storage device controller directly allows the host to read the data without determining whether the host performs the play operation or the copy operation on the data stored in the second storage space,
• wherein the storage device controller determines that the host performs the copy operation on the data when a total number of the at least one reading instruction is larger than or equal to a predetermined number and all read data lengths respectively corresponding to the at least one reading instruction are larger than a predetermined length.

A storage device controller comprising:

• a microprocessor unit;
• a storage medium interface unit, coupled to the microprocessor unit for coupling the storage device controller to a storage unit of a storage device;
• a host interface unit, coupled to the microprocessor unit for coupling the storage device controller to a host;
• and
• a data protection unit, coupled to the microprocessor unit, receiving at least one reading instruction from the host, executing the reading instruction, and determining whether the host performs a play operation or a copy operation on a data stored in the storage unit when the host is coupled to the storage device for accessing the data after executing the read instruction,
• wherein if the data protection unit determines that the host performs the play operation on the data, the storage device controller continues to execute the play operation so as to allow the host to access the data,
• if the data protection unit determines that the host performs the copy operation on the data, the storage device controller executes an interference procedure so as to prevent or retard the data from being copied into the host,
• wherein the storage device controller defines a first data quantity and a second data quantity according to a type of a transmission interface between the host and the storage device, wherein the second data quantity is larger than the first data quantity,
• wherein the storage device controller determines that the host performs the play operation on the data when a difference between a data reading quantity of the host and the first data quantity is smaller than a difference between the data reading quantity and the second data quantity,
• wherein the storage device controller determines that the host performs the copy operation on the data when the difference between the data reading quantity and the first data quantity is larger than the difference between the data reading quantity and the second data quantity.