Method and Apparatus of Providing Security to an External Attachment Device

Abstract

Systems and methods of providing security to an external Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) device are described herein. One embodiment includes presenting to a computing device, a first partition of an external Serial Advanced Technology Attachment storage device, as a Read Only Memory; restricting the computing device from accessing a secured second partition of the external Serial Advanced Technology Attachment storage device; and in response to receiving a valid identity authentication, unrestricting access to the second partition of the external Serial Advanced Technology Attachment storage device. In one embodiment, in response to receiving a logon request from the computing device, an identity authentication process is initiated, wherein the process is stored on the first partition. Furthermore, in one embodiment, a process stored on a disk controller receives an encryption key from the process stored on the first partition of the Serial Advanced Technology Attachment storage device, and the process stored on the disk controller uses the encryption key to decrypt the second partition of the Serial Advanced Technology Attachment storage device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 939,030 entitled “Device, System, and Method for Further Enhanced Operation of an eSATA Device with a Computing Device,” which was filed on May 18, 2007, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the present application is related to a copending U.S. Patent Application entitled “Method and Apparatus of Providing Power to an External Attachment Device via a Computing Device,” which was filed on Jul. 24, 2007, with the same assignee as the present disclosure. The disclosure of the above-identified copending application is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to a system and method of providing security to an external Serial Advanced Technology Attachment device, and in particular to providing security to an external Serial Advanced Techno...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0020]The following description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description.

[0021]Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments bu...

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 939,030 entitled “Device, System, and Method for Further Enhanced Operation of an eSATA Device with a Computing Device,” which was filed on May 18, 2007, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the present application is related to a copending U.S. Patent Application entitled “Method and Apparatus of Providing Power to an External Attachment Device via a Computing Device,” which was filed on Jul. 24, 2007, with the same assignee as the present disclosure. The disclosure of the above-identified copending application is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to a system and method of providing security to an external Serial Advanced Technology Attachment device, and in particular to providing security to an external Serial Advanced Techno...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0020]The following description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description.

[0021]Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments bu...

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