Encrypting portable media system and method of operation thereof

1. A method comprising:

generating an encryption key inside of a portable media system that is configured to store cipher information, the portable media system being configured to receive the cipher information from a host computer system and the portable media system being configured to generate the cipher information with the encryption key when the host computer system transmits clear information;

storing the encryption key inside the portable media system, wherein the encryption key is not visible to the host computer system;

receiving, by the portable media system, a command including an attribute indicating a selection of the clear information or the cipher information to be transmitted to the host computer system;

transmitting, after decrypting the cipher information by the portable media system, from the portable media system to the host computer system, the clear information when the attribute indicates that the clear information is to be transmitted to the host computer system; and

transmitting the cipher information, previously encrypted by the portable media system, from the portable media system to the host computer system when the attribute indicates that the cipher information is to be transmitted.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

decrypting the cipher information, stored in the portable media system, with the encryption key stored inside of the portable media system before transmittal of the clear information from the portable media system to the host computer system.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

storing the cipher information in a memory system in the portable media system, the memory system being connected to a controller in the portable media system; and

providing an encryption system, in the portable media system, having an encryption algorithm for encrypting the clear information with the encryption key stored inside the portable media system.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the controller is for generating and storing the encryption key for use by the encryption system to encrypt or to decrypt data.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein generating the encryption key further comprises:

generating the encryption key at random.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the command is part of an enhanced command set for exchanging information between the portable media system and the host computer system, wherein the command permits exchanging the cipher information and the clear information between the portable media system and the host computer system.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the enhanced command set includes a first command for a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) read, the first command including the attribute indicating the selection of the clear information or the cipher information.

8. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the enhanced command set includes a second command for a SCSI write, the second command including another attribute indicating whether encryption is to be performed on data being written to the portable media system.

9. A portable media system comprising:

a memory for storing cipher information; and

a controller configured to generate and store an encryption key; and

an encryption system for generating the cipher information when a host computer system transmits clear information, the cipher information being generated by encrypting the clear information with the encryption key, the encryption system further configured for decrypting the cipher information with the encryption key to generate the clear information;

wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a command including an attribute indicating a selection of the clear information or the cipher information to be transmitted to the host computer system;

transmit, after decrypting the cipher information by the portable media system, to the host computer system, the clear information when the attribute indicates that the clear information is to be transmitted to the host computer system; and

transmit, to the host computer system, the cipher information, previously encrypted by the portable media system, when the attribute indicates that the cipher information is to be transmitted.

10. The portable media system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the encryption system includes an encryption algorithm for encrypting the clear information with the encryption key stored inside the portable media system.

11. The portable media system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the controller contains the encryption key for use by the encryption system to encrypt or to decrypt data.

12. The portable media system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the encryption key is a random key created inside the portable media system.

13. The portable media system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the command is part of an enhanced command set for exchanging information between the portable media system and the host computer system, wherein the command permits exchanging the cipher information and the clear information between the portable media system and the host computer system.

14. The portable media system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the enhanced command set includes a first command for a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) read, the first command including the attribute indicating the selection of the clear information or the cipher information.

15. The portable media system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the enhanced command set includes a second command for a SCSI write, the second command including another attribute indicating whether encryption is to be performed on data being written to the portable media system.

16. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

generating an encryption key inside of a portable media system that is configured to store cipher information, the portable media system being configured to receive the cipher information from a host computer system and the portable media system being configured to generate the cipher information with the encryption key when the host computer system transmits clear information;

storing the encryption key inside the portable media system, wherein the encryption key is not visible to the host computer system;

receiving, by the portable media system, a command including an attribute indicating a selection of the clear information or the cipher information to be transmitted to the host computer system;

transmitting, after decrypting the cipher information by the portable media system, from the portable media system to the host computer system, the clear information when the attribute indicates that the clear information is to be transmitted to the host computer system; and

transmitting the cipher information, previously encrypted by the portable media system, from the portable media system to the host computer system when the attribute indicates that the cipher information is to be transmitted.

17. The machine-readable storage medium as recited in claim 16 , wherein the machine further performs operations comprising:

decrypting the cipher information, stored in the portable media system, with the encryption key before transmittal of the clear information from the portable media system to the host computer system.

18. The machine-readable storage medium as recited in claim 16 , wherein the command is part of an enhanced command set for exchanging information between the portable media system and the host computer system, wherein the command permits exchanging the cipher information and the clear information between the portable media system and the host computer system, wherein the enhanced command set includes a first command for a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) read, the first command including the attribute indicating the selection of the clear information or the cipher information, wherein the enhanced command set includes a second command for a SCSI write, the second command including another attribute indicating whether encryption is to be performed on data being written to the portable media system.

19. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the cipher information back from the host computer system after transmitting the cipher information from the portable media system to the host computer system;

decrypting the cipher information, received from the host computer system, with the encryption key, stored inside of the portable media system, to obtain the clear information; and

transmitting, from the portable media system to the host computer system, the clear information after the decrypting.