Systems and methods for creating exact copies of computer long-term storage devices

US 20040186969A1
Filed: 01/27/2004
Published: 09/23/2004
Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2003
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

Patent Images

1. A device for making exact copies of long-term memory devices comprising:

an interface for connecting to a storage device (source);

one or more interfaces for connecting to the storage device(s) (destination);

a user controllable switch that, when actuated by a user, causes the device to commence a copy; and

a control circuit coupled to the interface (source) and the interface(s) (destination), the control circuit issuing commands to make an exact copy of the storage device connected to the interface (source), wherein the copying device is operating system independent.

View all claims

1 Assignment

Timeline View

Assignment View

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

A Simple Device for creating exact copies of computer long-term memory devices such as hard drives and compact flash memory. Our current invention is a stand-alone device. A user connects a long-term memory device he desires to make a copy of (source) to our device. The user also connects a long-term memory device to receive this copy (destination). Our device contains logic and circuitry, which perform operations on both the source and destination device to make an exact copy of the Source Data to the Destination Device, while protecting the Source device from any changes. Our device has a very simple user interface. This simplified user interface makes it difficult and unlikely to use our device incorrectly.

11 Citations

View as Search Results

27 Claims

1. A device for making exact copies of long-term memory devices comprising:
- an interface for connecting to a storage device (source);
  
  one or more interfaces for connecting to the storage device(s) (destination);
  
  a user controllable switch that, when actuated by a user, causes the device to commence a copy; and
  
  a control circuit coupled to the interface (source) and the interface(s) (destination), the control circuit issuing commands to make an exact copy of the storage device connected to the interface (source), wherein the copying device is operating system independent.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- - 2. The copying device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit issues commands to verify the copy is an exact match with the source.
  - 3. The copying device of claim 2, wherein the control circuit reads and compares the source and copy devices.
  - 4. The copying device of claim 2, wherein a user controllable switch is connected to the control circuit to interrupt the verification procedure.
  - 5. The copying device of claim 1, wherein the interface is an integrated device electronics (IDE) interface for a disk drive.
  - 6. The copying device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit accesses hidden/blocked areas of a source drive and subsequently restores the source drive to the original settings after a copy process is complete.
  - 7. The copying device of claim 6, wherein the control circuit removes or modifies a Host Protected Area (HPA) from a source device and restores the HPA after a copy process is complete.
  - 8. The copying device of claim 6, wherein the control circuit removes or modifies Device Configuration Overlay settings (DCO) from a source device and restores the DCO after a copy process is complete.
  - 9. The copying device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit sets the Host Protected Area on a copied device to the size of a source device.
  - 10. The copying device of claim 1, further comprising:
    - one or more additional interfaces for connecting to display and/or output devices, to produce a report.
  - 11. The copying device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit writes a standard bit pattern on a copy device to indicate unreadable data on the source device.
  - 12. The copying device of claim 1, further including light emitting diodes (LEDs) coupled to the control circuit and configured to transmit status information relating to the status of the copying device.
  - 13. The copying device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit scans the source device for one or more specific bit patterns, during the copy procedure.
  - 14. The copying device of claim 13, further including:
    - a user controllable switch is connected to the control circuit to enable scanning functions only.
  - 15. The copying device of claim 13, further including:
    - one or more additional interfaces for connecting to input devices, to receive specific bit patterns to scan.
  - 16. The copying device of claim 1, further comprising:
    - a casing configured to contain the control circuit and the interface, the user controllable switch being mounted on the casing, the casing being of a size that is portable by the user.
  - 17. The copying device of claim 16, wherein the casing is a rectangular casing that is 7.0″
    - ×
      
      4.5″
      
      ×
      
      1.25″
      
      or smaller.
  - 18. The copying device of claim 16, further comprising:
    - cables emanating from the casing and connected to the interfaces, the cables being configured to connect to long-term memory devices.
  - 19. The copying device of claim 18, wherein the cables are Integrated Device Electronics (IDE) cables.
  - 20. The copying device of claim 1, further comprising:
    - a power supply configured to supply power to the control circuit.
  - 21. The device of claim 20, further comprising:
    - drive power cords emanating from the casing and configured to supply power from the power supply to the long-term memory components.

22. A copying device comprising:
- means for interfacing with a source drive wherein the source device is protected from accidental state changes;
  
  means for interfacing with one or more destination devices;
  
  means initiating the copying procedure; and
  
  means for making an exact copy, wherein the copy device is operating system independent.

23. The copying device of 22, further comprising:
- means for verifying an exact copy was made.

24. The copying device of 22, further comprising:
- means for copying hidden/protected areas and returning the source device to its original state.

25. The copying device of 22, further comprising:
- means for scanning for one or more specific bit patterns.

26. The copying device of 22, further comprising:
- means for indicating areas on a source device that were unreadable.

27. The copying device of 1, wherein the source and destination devices have different interfaces.

Specification

Resources

Litigation Campaign Assessment

Current Assignee
MyKey Technology Incorporated
Original Assignee
Mark Joseph Menz, Steven Bress
Inventors
Bress, Steven, Menz, Mark Joseph

Granted Patent

US 7,159,086 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

711/162
CPC Class Codes

G06F 11/1456   Hardware arrangements for b...

G06F 3/0617   in relation to availability

G06F 3/065   Replication mechanisms

G06F 3/0674   Disk device

Systems and methods for creating exact copies of computer long-term storage devices

First Claim

1 Assignment

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

11 Citations

27 Claims

Specification

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links

Systems and methods for creating exact copies of computer long-term storage devices

First Claim

1 Assignment

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

11 Citations

27 Claims

Specification

Subscription Required

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links