Removable Storage Drive Identifier and Timestamp Logging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic systems face challenges in tracking the recording history of removable storage media, particularly in ensuring that data is recorded by functional drives and providing forensic audit trails for legal and criminal investigations.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a drive identifier table on the storage medium that logs index values and time stamps for each write operation, allowing identification of the storage drive and timestamp of data recording, enabling forensic analysis and drive diagnostics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no audit information is recorded on the storage medium, then the storage medium can be used freely by different drives, but the recording history cannot be tracked and forensic analysis is impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the audit information (drive identifier and time value) directly with the data in the same addressable units of the storage medium. This merging approach allows tracking of recording history without requiring separate audit structures, thus improving reliability while minimizing additional complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The storage medium itself stores the audit information needed for forensic analysis and tracking. The medium serves its own audit requirements by containing both data and the metadata (drive identifier, time value) needed to verify its recording history, eliminating the need for external tracking systems
2Loss of information
If drive identifier and time value are written to each addressable unit, then forensic audit trails are created, but the storage capacity is reduced and write operations become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by writing audit information only to the extent necessary - storing compact drive identifiers and time values in the addressable units without excessive redundancy. This approach captures the essential recording history while minimizing the space consumed by audit data
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation by using efficient encoding schemes for drive identifiers and time values. By optimizing how these parameters are stored (using compact formats), the system preserves complete recording history while minimizing the impact on available storage capacity
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple drives can write to the same storage medium, then versatility is improved, but the ability to identify which drive recorded which data is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by writing the drive identifier to each addressable unit whenever data is written. This creates a self-documenting storage system where the audit information (which drive wrote what) is stored alongside the data, allowing precise identification of recording sources while maintaining multi-drive versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by recording the drive identifier and time value at the moment of writing, before any potential overwriting or modification of the data. This ensures that the original recording information is preserved and provides accurate forensic evidence of which drive recorded which data
Data Source
AI summary
A system (and associated method) comprises a storage drive and a central processing unit (“CPU”). The storage drive is adapted to accommodate a removable storage medium. The CPU is configured to cause the CPU to write data and a time value to each of a plurality of addressable units of the storage medium in which data is written. The time value is indicative of the time at which each addressable unit was written with data.