EP0471538A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Data security system
Assignee: BAE Systems Electronics Ltd
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Filing: 1991-08-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A data security system for protecting data discs and like bulk storage devices. A hardware encryption circuit (21) is incorporated in the disc controller (5) by which a host computer (3) accesses a disc (1). The encryption circuit (21) is activated (27) by a key, consisting of a card (25) and an associated number code, to decode data read from the disc or to encode data written to it. The system may thus be made automatic, without the intrusion of software security programs run by the host computer. Operation of the encryption circuit is wholly transparent to the host computer and no modification of the operating system or system software is necessary. Furthermore, the existing standard interfaces (7,9) of the disc controller with the disc and the computer can continue to be used.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Anthony Taylor
- 👤 Leslie Alan Oliver
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:26
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/70; G06F21/78; G06F21/80; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2107; G06F2221/2153
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A data security system for providing secure access to data stored in a bulk storage device and comprising control means (5) adapted to be coupled to, and to control the transfer of data between, a said bulk storage device (1) and a host computer (3) , the control means (5) including a circuit (21) effective to encode data to be transmitted from a said host computer (3) to a said bulk storage device (1) and to decode data to be transmitted in the reverse direction, said circuit (21) being operable (27) only in response to the operation of a key (25) in conjunction with the control means (5).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A data security system for providing secure access to data stored in a bulk storage device and comprising a host computer (3), a bulk storage device (1) and control means (5) for controlling the transfer of data between the host computer (3) and the bulk storage device (1), wherein the control means (5) includes a circuit effective (21) to encode data to be transmitted from said host computer (3) to said bulk storage device (1) and to decode data to be transmitted in the reverse direction, said circuit (21) being operable (27) only in response to the operation of a key (25) in conjunction with the control means (5).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A security system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said key (25) comprises a physical device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A security system according to Claim 3, wherein said physical device is a card (25) having a stored code which constitutes an essential element in the coding process provided by said circuit (21).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A security system according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein said key further comprises a code number associated with said physical device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A security system according to Claim 5, including a key-pad for the generation of said code number and means for validating a code number so generated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A security system according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, as appendent to Claim 4, wherein said code number is stored on said card.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
A security system according to Claim 2, comprising a plurality of keys for use in conjunction with said control means, the control means being adapted to associate said keys with respective storage areas of said bulk storage device, each key rendering said circuit operable exclusively in respect of data to be read from or written to its associated storage area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A security system according to Claim 2, wherein said control means is adapted to mark encoded data stored in said bulk storage device so that on read-out unencoded data is transmitted to said host computer without operation of said circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A security system according to Claim 9, wherein said control means is adapted to provide an indication when encoded data is addressed without operation of said circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A security system according to Claim 2, wherein said bulk storage device is a data storage disc.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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