Keeping file systems or partitions private in a memory device
View Patent ↗Disclosed is a method and apparatus for allowing a user to select, from a plurality of partitions on a memory device, which partitions may be visible to hosts connecting to the memory device.
1. A method of using a master boot record (MBR) on a memory device for partition visibility during a connection session to a host, the memory device configurable for use with a host, the method comprising:
detecting a connection initiation;
determining, by the memory device, a host identity (ID);
retrieving a partition setting associated with the host ID, the partition setting having been previously associated with the host ID to allow determination of visibility of a partition using an MBR;
determining an MBR based on the retrieved partition setting; and
using the determined MBR during the connection to the host.
2. The method of claim 1 where the determining a host ID further comprises receiving a password during device initialization.
3. The method of claim 1 where the determining a host ID further comprises detection of a hardware-based indicator.
4. The method of claim 1 where the determining an MBR comprises generating an MBR for the session.
5. The method of claim 1 where the determining an MBR comprises selecting an existing MBR for the session.
6. A method of using a master boot record (MBR) on a memory device for partition visibility during a connection session to a host, the memory device configurable for use with a host, the method comprising:
detecting a connection initiation;
determining, by the memory device, a connection type;
retrieving a partition setting associated with the connection type, the partition setting having been previously associated with the connection type to allow determination of visibility of a partition using an MBR;
determining an MBR based on the retrieved partition setting; and
using the determined MBR during the connection session.
7. The method of claim 6 where the determining a connection type further comprises detecting a wireless or wired connection type.
8. The method of claim 6 where the determining a connection type further comprises detecting a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection.
9. The method of claim 8 where the determining an MBR comprises generating an MBR for the session, based on the partition settings for the connection type.
10. The method of claim 8 where the determining an MBR comprises selecting an existing MBR for the session based on the partition settings for the connection type.