Security-Chip Dongle for Flexible-Capacity SD Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dongles with mass storage functions using flash chips face limitations such as non-modifiable capacity, inability to replace flash chips, and lack of control over flash chip operations, leading to data security vulnerabilities.
Innovation Solution
A dongle system that includes a security chip to manage SD cards, allowing flexible capacity through replaceable flash chips, and controls operations via logic partitions and PIN codes to ensure data security and prevent theft or destruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flash chip is used to realize mass storage function in a dongle, then the dongle can store data, but the capacity of the flash chip cannot be modified freely and the flash chip cannot be replaced when it has issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage system into two independent parts: a controllable storage medium (SD card or USB flash drive) and a control device (dongle with security chip). This segmentation allows the storage medium to be freely replaced and capacity to be modified without changing the control device, thereby achieving capacity flexibility while maintaining system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The dongle is designed to support multiple types of storage media (SD cards and USB flash drives) through universal identification and control mechanisms. The security chip can manage different storage devices interchangeably, making the system versatile and adaptable to various storage capacities and types without requiring device-specific customization.
2Reliability
If a flash chip is used in the dongle, then mass storage is achieved, but controlling the flash chip is independent of the dongle, making data vulnerable to destruction and theft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a security chip as an intermediary between the user and the storage medium. This security chip acts as a gateway that verifies user credentials (such as passwords or biometric data) before allowing access to the storage device. It establishes a secure communication channel and controls all operations on the storage medium, preventing unauthorized access and data theft while maintaining simple user interaction.
3Ease of operation
If the flash chip is controlled independently from the dongle, then the flash chip can operate autonomously, but the data on the flash chip is easily destroyed and stolen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary security measures by requiring authentication before any operation on the storage medium. The security chip verifies user credentials in advance and establishes permission levels before allowing read, write, or delete operations. This preliminary anti-action prevents unauthorized access and potential data destruction or theft, while still allowing legitimate users to operate the storage device conveniently.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for implementing a dongle, comprising: a security chip of a dongle determining whether a secure digital (SD) card in a card slot of the dongle is a valid SD card; if the SD card is a valid SD card, when a received instruction is a first/second USB flash drive area access instruction sent by a system, executing an operation of accessing the first/second USB flash drive area; when the received instruction is a PIN code verification instruction for the second USB flash drive area or an encryption area sent by an upper layer, executing a PIN code verification operation on the second USB flash drive area or the encryption area; when the received instruction is a read/write instruction for the encryption area sent by the upper layer, executing a read/write operation on the encryption area; if the SD card is an invalid SD card, when the received instruction is a partitioning instruction, the security chip of the dongle executing a partitioning operation according to a partition information table in the partitioning instruction, storing the partition information table to a secure storage area of the security chip of the dongle, and setting the SD card to be valid. The present invention can ensure that data stored in an SD card is not prone to damage or stealing.