Universal serial bus device

Abstract

A Universal Serial Bus (USB) device may comprise a controller including a USB interface and a USB connector in communication with the USB interface. The USB device may also comprise a decision component for receiving a credential, and in response to a valid credential, for providing access to an operation of the USB device.

1 . A Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive comprising: 
 (a) a controller including a USB interface and a non-volatile computer readable media interface;    (b) a nonvolatile computer readable media storing data, the nonvolatile computer readable media being in communication with the nonvolatile computer readable media interface and including a public partition and a private partition;    (c) a USB connector in communication with the USB interface; and    (d) a decision component for receiving at least one credential and in response to a valid credential, for providing access to the private partition.    
   
   
       2 . The USB flash drive of  claim 1 , further comprising a power supply providing power to the controller, non-volatile computer readable media, and decision component.  
   
   
       3 . The USB flash drive of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one selector suitable for generating a credential for authentication.  
   
   
       4 . The USB flash drive of  claim 3 , wherein that at least one selector includes a plurality of alpha-numeric selectors.  
   
   
       5 . The USB flash drive of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one selector includes a plurality of selectors, the credential including a selection of a series of the plurality of selectors.  
   
   
       6 . The USB flash drive of  claim 3  wherein the at least one selector includes a plurality of selectors, the credential including a selection of a combination of the plurality of selectors.  
   
   
       7 . The USB flash drive of  claim 3 , wherein the credential includes selecting the at least one selector in a predetermined timing rhythm.  
   
   
       8 . The USB flash drive of  claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter for generating a modulated data signal representing data from the nonvolatile media.  
   
   
       9 . The USB flash drive of  claim 1 , wherein the decision component is in communication with a host computer system to receive the at least one credential.  
   
   
       10 . The USB flash drive of  claim 9 , wherein the credential includes a written signature, a voice print, and a password.  
   
   
       11 . The USB flash drive of  claim 1 , wherein if the received credential is not valid, the decision component is adapted to authenticate another received credential.  
   
   
       12 . The USB flash drive of  claim 11 , wherein the decision component determines a credential attempt count representing a number of invalid credentials received and wherein the decision component is adapted to refuse to authenticate another received credential if the credential count exceeds a predetermined threshold.  
   
   
       13 . The USB flash drive of  claim 12 , wherein a fuse to the nonvolatile computer readable media is burned if the credential attempt count exceeds the predetermined threshold.  
   
   
       14 . The USB flash drive of  claim 1 , wherein the controller denies access to the nonvolatile computer readable medium after a predetermined event.  
   
   
       15 . The USB flash drive of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined event includes a power cycle of the USB flash drive.  
   
   
       16 . The USB flash drive of  claim 1 , wherein the decision component compares the received credential with a basis credential.  
   
   
       17 . The USB flash drive of  claim 16 , wherein the basis component is stored on the private partition.  
   
   
       18 . A computer readable medium of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device having computer executable instructions for performing steps comprising: 
 (a) receiving a first credential at the USB device;    (b) authenticating at the USB device the first credential;    (c) if the first credential is determined as authentic, granting access to an operation of the USB device.    
   
   
       19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the operation of the USB device is access to a private partition of a computer readable medium.  
   
   
       20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein authenticating includes comparing the first credential with a basis credential.  
   
   
       21 . The computer readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein receiving the first credential includes detecting a selection of one or more selectors of the USB device.  
   
   
       22 . The computer readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more selectors includes a plurality of selectors, and the basis credential includes an indication of a predetermined series of selections of the plurality of selectors.  
   
   
       23 . The computer readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more selectors includes a plurality of selectors, and the basis credential includes an indication of a predetermined combination of substantially simultaneous selection of the plurality of selectors.  
   
   
       24 . The computer readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the basis credential includes an indication of a predetermined timing rhythm of selection of the one or more selectors.  
   
   
       25 . The computer readable medium of  claim 18 , further comprising if the first credential is determined as inauthentic, increasing a value of a credential attempt count.  
   
   
       26 . The computer readable medium of  claim 25 , further comprising receiving a second credential, comparing the credential attempt count with a predetermined threshold, and authenticating the second credential only if the credential attempt count is less than the predetermined threshold.  
   
   
       27 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising receiving an authentic second credential, comparing the credential attempt count with a predetermined threshold, denying access to the operation of the USB device if the credential attempt count is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold.  
   
   
       28 . The computer readable medium of  claim 18 , receiving an indication of a predetermined event, and denying access to the operation of the USB device after receiving the indication of the predetermined event unless an authentic second credential is received.  
   
   
       29 . The computer readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein receiving an indication of a predetermined event includes receiving an indication of a power cycle of the USB device.  
   
   
       30 . The computer readable medium of  claim 29 , wherein the indication of a power cycle is received from a power supply of the USB device.  
   
   
       31 . The computer readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein receiving an indication of a predetermined event includes receiving an indication of a selection of a lock selector of the USB device.  
   
   
       32 . The computer readable medium of  claim 18 , further comprising transmitting at least a portion of the computer readable medium to an external device after granting access to an operation of the USB device.  
   
   
       33 . The computer readable medium of  claim 18 , further comprising receiving a data portion from an external device other than a host computer system attached to a USB connector of the USB device after granting access to an operation of the USB device.  
   
   
       34 . The computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein receiving the credential includes receiving the credential from a host computer system through the USB connector.  
   
   
       35 . A Universal Serial Bus (USB) device comprising: 
 (a) a controller including a USB interface;    (b) a USB connector in communication with the USB interface;    (c) at least one key selector for receiving a credential; and    (d) a decision component for receiving the credential and in response to a valid credential, for providing access to an operation of the USB device.    
   
   
       36 . The USB device of  claim 35 , further comprising a power supply in communication with the controller, the at least one key selector, and the decision component.  
   
   
       37 . The USB device of  claim 35 , wherein the decision component compares the credential to a basis credential.  
   
   
       38 . The USB device of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one key selector includes a plurality of key selectors, and the basis credential includes an indication of a predetermined series of selections of the plurality of key selectors.  
   
   
       39 . The USB device of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one key selector includes a plurality of key selectors, and the basis credential includes an indication of a predetermined combination of substantially simultaneous selection of the plurality of key selectors.  
   
   
       40 . The USB device of  claim 35 , wherein the basis credential includes an indication of a predetermined timing rhythm of selection of the one or more key selectors.  
   
   
       41 . The USB device of  claim 35 , further comprising a lock selector for sending a lock signal to the decision component, and the decision component, in response to the lock signal, denies access to the operation of the USB device unless the decision component authenticates a second credential.