METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTHENTICATING USER ACCESS TO DISK DRIVE

1 . A disk apparatus configured to be connected to a host device, and having a security program for preventing unauthorized user access to the disk apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a disk medium storing a boot program for executing a boot process of said disk apparatus;

a security program storage unit storing the security program; and

a processor for retrieving the security program from the security program storage unit and enabling the host device to execute the security program;

wherein the boot program is executed when the host device determines from executing the security program that the disk apparatus may be accessed by the user.

2 . The disk apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein said processor retrieves the security program from said security program storage unit when the disk apparatus is locked.

3 . The disk apparatus as defined in claim 2 , wherein the security program determines that the user is authorized to access the disk apparatus when credential information provided by the user matches authentication information stored in the disk apparatus.

4 . The disk apparatus as defined in claim 3 , wherein said authentication information is stored in a program memory for storing data used by said processor.

5 . The disk apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein said security program storage unit comprises a non-volatile memory.

6 . The disk apparatus as defined in claim 5 , wherein said security program storage unit comprises a flash memory.

7 . The disk apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein said security program storage unit is provided in a flash memory used as cache for user data or a program memory for storing data used by said processor.

8 . A method for preventing unauthorized user access to a disk apparatus, comprising:

storing a boot program for executing a boot process of the disk apparatus on a disk medium in the disk apparatus;

storing a security program for accessing said boot program in a non-volatile storage unit in the disk apparatus;

retrieving the security program from the storage unit and enabling a host device operatively connected to the disk apparatus to execute the security program when an access is requested by a user; and

retrieving the boot program from the disk medium and enabling the host device to execute the boot program if it is determined from executing the security program that the disk apparatus may be accessed by the user.

9 . The method as defined in claim 8 , wherein the security program is retrieved from said storage unit when the disk apparatus is locked.

10 . The method as defined in claim 8 , wherein the security program determines that the user is authorized to access the disk apparatus when credential information provided by the user during the execution of the security program matches authentication information stored in the disk apparatus.

11 . A method for reducing a credential authentication process in a disk apparatus, comprising:

storing a security program for accessing a boot program in a non-volatile storage unit in the disk apparatus; and

retrieving the security program from the storage unit and enabling a host device operatively connected to the disk apparatus to execute the security program when an access is requested by a user;

wherein the security program is retrieved from the storage unit without waiting for a disk medium in the disk apparatus to reach an operating speed.

12 . The method as defined in claim 11 , wherein said non-volatile storage device is a flash memory.

13 . A method for reducing a boot process time in a disk apparatus having a security program for preventing unauthorized user access, comprising:

storing a boot program for executing a boot process of the disk apparatus in a storage device in the disk apparatus;

storing a security program for enabling access to said boot program in a non-volatile storage unit in the disk apparatus;

retrieving the security program from the storage device and enabling a host device operatively connected to the disk apparatus to execute the security program when an access is requested by a user; and

retrieving the boot program from the storage device and enabling the host device to execute the boot program if it is determined from executing the security program that the disk apparatus may be accessed by the user;

wherein the security program is retrieved from the storage unit without waiting for a disk medium to reach an operating speed.

14 . The method as defined in claim 13 , wherein the storage device is a disk medium.

15 . The method as defined in claim 13 , wherein the storage unit is a flash memory.

16 . A security apparatus for a disk device configured to be in communication with a host device, the disk device having a main control processor and a disk medium that stores a boot program for executing a boot process of the disk device, said security apparatus comprising:

a security program storage unit storing a security program for preventing unauthorized user access to the disk device;

wherein the main control processor retrieves said security program from said security program storage unit and enables the host device to execute the security program, and

the boot program is executed when the host device determines that the disk device may be accessed by the user.

17 . The security apparatus as defined in claim 16 , wherein the security program determines that the user is authorized to access the disk device when credential information provided by the user matches authentication information stored in the disk drive.

18 . The disk apparatus as defined in claim 16 , wherein said security program storage unit comprises a non-volatile memory.

19 . The security apparatus as defined in claim 18 , wherein said security program storage unit comprises a flash memory.

20 . The security apparatus as defined in claim 18 , wherein said security program storage unit is provided in a flash memory used as cache for user data or a program memory for storing data used by said main control processor.