A portable mass storage device is used to store large files such as digital pictures, movies and music. The mass storage device has firmware with security mechanisms that limit access to read write operations to ensure reliable operation of the device to prevent unwanted copying or storing of secure content such a copyrighted material. Although the security mechanisms generally limit access, the firmware is operable to work with a virtual machine and allows the virtual machine to access the secure content and work in conjunction with the firmware to read and write data to the mass storage memory, if the virtual machine is present. The virtual machine is either loaded but not activated at the time of manufacture, or is downloaded and activated post manufacture. Any royalty for the virtual machine is paid for only if and when the virtual machine is both present and activated in the device.

Claims

28 · 2 independent · depth 3

28 granted claims

›1.independentA storage device comprising:na memory;a virtual machine in an inactive state; anda controller operative to control read and write operations of the me…+14

›2.↳ 1The storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is operative to place the virtual machine in the active state in response to receiving an activa…d2+7

›10.↳ 1The storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is operative to place the virtual machine in the active state in response to receiving an applic…d2

›11.↳ 1The storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is operative to implement a security system to protect data stored in the memory, and wherein th…d2

›12.↳ 1The storage device of claim 1, wherein the virtual machine is loaded into the storage device prior to a time of sale to an end user.d2

›13.↳ 1The storage device of claim 1, wherein the virtual machine is downloaded to the storage device after a time of sale to an end user.d2+1

›15.↳ 1The storage device of claim 1, wherein the virtual machine is loaded into the storage device along with new firmware.d2

›16.independentA method for activating a virtual machine in a storage device, the method comprising:nperforming in a controller of a storage device comprising a memo…+12

›17.↳ 16The method of claim 16 further comprising validating the activation code by checking it against an encrypted version of the activation code stored in …d2

›18.↳ 16The method of claim 16 further comprising sending the activation code to a server for validation.d2

›19.↳ 16The method of claim 16, wherein the virtual machine is placed in the active state only if the activation code is received from an authenticated entity…d2

›20.↳ 16The method of claim 16, wherein the activation code is based on one or both of an identifier of the virtual machine and an identifier of the storage d…d2

›21.↳ 16The method of claim 16, wherein the activation code further provides a digital rights management (DRM) permission.d2

›22.↳ 16The method of claim 16, wherein the activation code is based on a cryptographic authentication scheme.d2

›23.↳ 16The method of claim 16, wherein the activation code is based on a one-time password.d2

›24.↳ 16The method of claim 16 further comprising implementing a security system to protect data stored in the memory and allowing the virtual machine to acce…d2

›25.↳ 16The method of claim 16, wherein the virtual machine is loaded into the storage device prior to a time of sale to an end user.d2

›26.↳ 16The method of claim 16, wherein the virtual machine is downloaded to the storage device after a time of sale to an end user.d2+1

›28.↳ 16The method of claim 16, wherein the virtual machine is loaded into the storage device along with new firmware.d2

Classifications

14 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section G — Physics

G06F13/12
G06F12/06
G06F9/455
G06F7/04
G06F13/00
G06F3/00

Section H — Electricity

H05K7/10

USPC · US Patent Classification

710/8713/2718/1711/100726/2710/74710/301

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Pendency

2.0 y

722 days filing → grant

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non-final + final

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1 RCE

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Alan Chen

art unit 2129 · TC 2100

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Citations: 40 back · 0 forward

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›Priority documents — 1

Type	Document	Date
related publication	US 20100205457 A1	12 Aug 2010

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