Smart Storage Device Memory Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Smart cards require larger and more costly embedded integrated memory to meet increasing storage demands for additional and complex applications, user data, and security protocols.
Innovation Solution
A smart storage device architecture that integrates a controller with a separate or integrated smart-card portion, utilizing a flash memory device to store smart-card applications and data, reducing memory requirements in the smart-card portion and enabling larger and more sophisticated application storage, with encryption engines for secure data management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If larger embedded integrated memory is used in smart cards, then storage capacity for applications and user data is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage system into two separate components: a smart card portion with minimal memory for security functions, and an external flash memory device for bulk data storage. This segmentation allows the smart card to maintain security while the system achieves high storage capacity through the external memory component.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the smart card portion and the external flash memory device, managing data transfer, authentication, and encryption operations. This intermediary enables the system to leverage external memory while maintaining smart card security protocols.
2Reliability
If separate encryption key management is implemented, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts encryption key management from the external flash memory and concentrates it within the smart card portion. This extraction ensures that sensitive cryptographic operations and key storage remain within the secure boundary of the smart card, while the external memory handles only encrypted data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines authentication, encryption key management, and security protocol execution within the smart card portion, creating a unified security module. This merging simplifies the overall system architecture by consolidating security functions in a single secure component rather than distributing them across multiple elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A smart storage device can have a smart-card portion with access control circuitry and integrated memory, a controller in selective communication with the smart-card portion, and a memory device in communication with the controller. The memory device can be separate from the smart-card portion and can store one or more smart-card applications.