Methods and devices for expandable storage

1. A method for expanding a storage capacity in a storage device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) creating at least one partition in a storage memory of the storage device;

(b) designating a reserved-storage area and an enabled-storage area in said at least one partition;

(c) storing a partition size in a file allocation table (FAT) of said storage memory, wherein said partition size corresponds to a size of said enabled-storage area;

(d) upon authorization, increasing said partition size to include sectors in said reserved-storage area, thereby expanding the storage capacity in the storage device; and

(e) updating an enabled capacity stored in a memory-management area in said storage memory to include an increased partition size.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said reserved-storage area is not accessible by a host system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said partition size is determined from a partition range stored in a master boot record in said storage memory, and wherein said partition range corresponds to a sector range of said enabled-storage area.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said partition range is determined from said enabled capacity stored in said memory-management area in said storage memory, and wherein said memory-management area is not accessible by a host system.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said authorization is performed using a key provided to the storage device from a host system, wherein said key includes a device identification.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said steps of creating, designating, storing, and increasing are performed by a memory controller in the storage device.

7. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising the step of:

(f) reformatting said storage memory only upon receiving a permission verification.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of increasing is performed without erasing content stored in said storage memory.

9. A storage device for enabling expansion of a storage capacity in the storage device, the device comprising:

(a) a storage memory having at least one partition; and

(b) a memory controller configured:

(i) to designate a reserved-storage area and an enabled-storage area in said at least one partition;

(ii) to store a partition size in a file allocation table (FAT) of said storage memory, wherein said partition size corresponds to a size of said enabled-storage area;

(iii) to increase, upon authorization, said partition size to include sectors in said reserved-storage area, thereby enabling expansion of the storage capacity in the storage device,

(iv) updating an enabled capacity stored in a memory-management area in said storage memory to include an increased partition size.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein said reserved-storage area is not accessible by a host system.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein said partition size is determined from a partition range stored in a master boot record in said storage memory, and wherein said partition range corresponds to a sector range of said enabled-storage area.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein said partition range is deter mined from said enabled capacity stored in said memory-management area in said storage memory, and wherein said memory-management area is not accessible by a host system.

13. The device of claim 9 , wherein said authorization is performed using a key provided to the storage device from a host system, wherein said key includes a device identification.

14. The device of claim 9 , wherein said memory controller is further configured:

(v) to reformat said storage memory only upon receiving a permission verification.

15. The device of claim 9 , wherein said increasing, by said memory controller, is performed without erasing content stored in said storage memory.

16. A business method for providing expandable storage capacity, the business method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a storage device including:

(i) a storage memory having at least one partition; and

(ii) a memory controller configured:

(A) to designate a reserved-storage area and an enabled-storage area in said at least one partition;

(B) to store a partition size in a file allocation table (FAT) of said storage memory, wherein said partition size corresponds to a size of said enabled-storage area; and

(C) to increase, upon authorization, said partition size to include sectors in said reserved-storage area, thereby enabling expansion of a storage capacity in said storage device;

(D) to update an enabled capacity stored in a memory-management area in said storage memory to include an increased partition size; and

(b) offering said storage device for sale.

17. The business method of claim 16 , wherein said reserved-storage area is not accessible by a host system.

18. The business method of claim 16 , wherein said partition size is determined from a partition range stored in a master boot record in said storage memory, and wherein said partition range corresponds to a sector range of said enabled-storage area.

19. The business method of claim 18 , wherein said partition range is determined from said enabled capacity stored in said memory-management area in said storage memory, and wherein said memory-management area is not accessible by a host system.

20. The business method of claim 16 , wherein said authorization is performed using a key provided to said storage device from a host system, wherein said key includes a device identification.

21. The business method of claim 16 , wherein said memory controller is further configured:

(E) to reformat said storage memory only upon receiving a permission verification.

22. The business method of claim 16 , wherein said increasing, by said memory controller, is performed without erasing content stored in said storage memory.