IP Library Granted Patent US 8,176,295
Granted Patent B2
US 8,176,295 · App. 12/426,917 · Granted May 8, 2012

Logical-to-physical address translation for a removable data storage device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,176,295
App. No.
12/426,917
Granted
May 8, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for making memory more reliable involves accessing data stored in a removable storage device by translating a logical memory address provided by a host digital device to a physical memory address in the device. A logical memory address is received from the host digital device. The logical memory address corresponds to a location of data stored on the removable storage device. A physical memory address corresponding to the local address is determined by accessing a lookup table corresponding to the logical zone.

Claims (45)

1. A method for making memory more reliable and for accessing encrypted data stored in a removable storage device by translating a logical memory address provided by a host digital device to a physical memory address in the removable storage device, the method comprising:

receiving a logical memory address from the host digital device, the logical memory address corresponding to a location of encrypted data stored on the removable storage device;

determining a logical zone of memory on the removable storage device, the logical zone corresponding to the logical memory address;

determining a local address within the logical zone of memory on the removable storage device, the local address within the logical zone corresponding to the logical memory address;

determining a physical memory address corresponding to the local address by accessing a lookup table corresponding to the logical zone;

determining a decryption key corresponding to the encrypted data stored at the physical memory address;

decrypting the encrypted data stored at the physical memory address using at least the decryption key to produce decrypted data; and

transmitting the decrypted data to the host digital device, wherein the decryption key corresponding to the encrypted data stored at the physical memory address is different than a decryption key corresponding to encrypted data stored at another physical memory address to which the logical zone corresponds.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising assigning a key to each of a plurality of LBA ranges.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the decryption key is determined by accessing the lookup table corresponding to the logical zone.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the decryption key is determined according to a range of logical memory addresses corresponding to the logical zone.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physical memory address corresponding to the local address includes an identification of one of a plurality of flash memory chips corresponding to the logical zone.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving a logical memory address from the host digital device comprises receiving a read/write command.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physical memory address corresponding to the local address within the logical zone may correspond to a different flash memory chip than a physical memory address corresponding to a different local address within the logical zone.

8. A method for making memory more reliable and for accessing encrypted data stored in a removable storage device by translating a logical memory address provided by a host digital device to a physical memory address in the removable storage device, the method comprising:

receiving a logical memory address from the host digital device, the logical memory address corresponding to a location of encrypted data stored on the removable storage device;

determining a logical zone of memory on the removable storage device, the logical zone corresponding to the logical memory address;

determining a local address within the logical zone of memory on the removable storage device, the local address within the logical zone corresponding to the logical memory address;

creating a lookup table in random access memory coupled with a processor of the removable storage device based on memory map data stored in flash memory corresponding to the logical zone, the flash memory coupled with the processor;

determining a physical memory address corresponding to the local address within the logical zone by accessing the lookup table in random access memory;

determining a decryption key corresponding to the encrypted data stored at the physical memory address;

decrypting the encrypted data stored at the physical memory address using at least the decryption key to produce decrypted data; and

transmitting the decrypted data to the host digital device, wherein the decryption key corresponding to the encrypted data stored at the physical memory address is different than a decryption key corresponding to encrypted data stored at another physical memory address to which the logical zone corresponds.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the decryption key is determined by accessing the lookup table in random access memory.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the decryption key is determined according to a range of logical memory addresses corresponding to the logical zone.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein creating the lookup table in random access memory is responsive to determining that a lookup table previously stored in the flash memory corresponding to the logical zone is invalid.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein receiving a logical memory address from the host digital device comprises receiving a read/write command.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the physical memory address corresponding to the local address within the logical zone may correspond to a different flash memory chip than a physical memory address corresponding to a different local address within the logical zone.

14. A removable storage device configured for making memory more reliable comprising:

flash memory including a plurality of non-volatile memory storage blocks;

a processor coupled with the flash memory and configured to read data from and write data to the non-volatile memory storage blocks;

a communications interface coupled with the processor and configured to communicate the data to and from a host digital device;

a memory having stored thereon firmware executable by the processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving a logical memory address from the host digital device, the logical memory address corresponding to a location of encrypted data stored on the removable storage device;

determining a logical zone of memory on the removable storage device, the logical zone corresponding to the logical memory address;

determining a local address within the logical zone of memory on the removable storage device, the local address within the logical zone corresponding to the logical memory address;

creating a lookup table in random access memory coupled with a processor of the removable storage device based on memory map data stored in flash memory corresponding to the logical zone, the flash memory coupled with the processor;

determining a physical memory address corresponding to the local address within the logical zone by accessing the lookup table in random access memory;

determining a decryption key corresponding to the encrypted data stored at the physical memory address;

decrypting the encrypted data stored at the physical memory address using at least the decryption key to produce decrypted data; and

transmitting the decrypted data to the host digital device, wherein creating the lookup table in random access memory is responsive to determining that a lookup table previously stored in the flash memory corresponding to the logical zone is invalid.

15. The removable storage device of claim 14 , wherein the decryption key is determined by accessing the lookup table in random access memory.

16. The removable storage device of claim 14 , wherein the decryption key is determined according to a range of logical memory addresses corresponding to the logical zone.

17. The removable storage device of claim 14 , wherein creating the lookup table in random access memory is responsive to determining that a lookup table previously created in the random access memory corresponds to a different logical zone than the logical zone corresponding to the logical address.

18. The removable storage device of claim 14 , wherein receiving a logical memory address from the host digital device comprises receiving a read/write command.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 29, 2016
From: IMATION CORP.
To: KINGSTON DIGITAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 038421/0923 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2011
From: IRONKEY, INC.
To: IMATION CORP.
Reel/Frame 027165/0487 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2009
From: RAMIYA MOTHILAL, ARUNPRASAD
To: IRONKEY, INC.
Reel/Frame 022569/0728 →