Data security device

Abstract

A backup device comprising a secondary user-carried device for backing up data from a primary portable data storage device is described. The backup device includes a short-range wireless communication link, a communication interface for communicating with the primary portable data storage device over the communication link to receive data to back up and to check for removal of the primary portable data storage device and storage for storing data received over the communication link from the primary portable data storage device. A triggering device is also provided for triggering an alert procedure when the primary portable data storage device is out of range for a predetermined period.

1 . A backup device comprising a secondary user-carried device for backing up data from a primary portable data storage device, the backup device comprising: 
 a short-range wireless communication link;    a communication interface for communicating with the primary portable data storage device over the communication link to receive data to back up and to check for removal of the primary portable data storage device;    storage for storing data received over the communication link from the primary portable data storage device; and    a triggering device for triggering an alert procedure when the primary portable data storage device is out of range for a predetermined period.    
   
   
       2 . A backup device according to  claim 1  wherein triggering an alert procedure comprises triggering an alarm signal.  
   
   
       3 . A backup device according to  claim 1  further comprising a detection device for detecting whether the wireless communication link of the portable data storage device is in use.  
   
   
       4 . A backup device according to  claim 1  wherein the backup device further comprises a rechargeable battery.  
   
   
       5 . A backup device according to  claim 1  wherein the backup device is mounted in a housing for mounting on a key-ring, in a wallet, on a watch or attachable to or part of an article of clothing.  
   
   
       6 . A backup device according to  claim 1  wherein the alert that is triggered is perceptible to a user within a pocket of the clothing of a user.  
   
   
       7 . A backup device according to  claim 1  wherein the alarm that is triggered includes at least one of an audible alarm or a vibrating alarm.  
   
   
       8 . A backup device according to  claim 1  further comprising an input interface for receiving a pairing signal to allow the paring of the backup device with the primary portable data storage device.  
   
   
       9 . A backup device according to  claim 1  wherein the backup device is configured without a user interface for enabling direct input of data into the storage.  
   
   
       10 . A backup device according to  claim 1  further comprising a communication interface for communicating data stored in the backup device to restore data to the portable data storage device or to a replacement portable data storage device.  
   
   
       11 . A backup device according to  claim 1  further comprising an interface for communicating with a network.  
   
   
       12 . A backup device according to  claim 1  further comprising a user interface for receiving a user input to cancel the alert procedure.  
   
   
       13 . A backup device according to  claim 1  further comprising a registration or authorisation interface for pre-registering the portable data storage device with the backup device to authorise pairing of the backup device and the portable data storage device.  
   
   
       14 . A primary portable data storage device comprising: 
 storage for storing data;    a short range wireless communication link; and    a communication interface for communicating with a secondary backup device over the short range wireless communication link,    wherein the primary portable data storage device is configured to communicate with the secondary backup device over the wireless communication link to transmit data from the storage to the secondary backup device.    
   
   
       15 . Apparatus for creating a message at a primary device having data storage and long range communication capabilities, the message comprising a header including a destination identifier for the message and a message payload including text data, the apparatus comprising: 
 an interface for receiving audio data from a user at a secondary device connected to the primary device over a short range wireless communication link;    a processor for processing the audio data to convert the audio data to text data;    an interface for obtaining a destination identifier for the message;    a device for generating a message incorporating the text data and the destination identifier;    an output interface for transmitting the message to the primary device over the short range wireless communication link.    
   
   
       16 . A communication device comprising: 
 a communication interface for communicating with a portable data storage device over a short-range wireless communication link to transmit audio and/or video data between the portable data storage device and a user in real-time;    an output interface for outputting audio and/or video data received from the portable data storage device to the user;    an input interface for receiving audio and/or video data from the user for transmission to the portable data storage device;    a device for supporting the communication device in relation to the user, away from the ear of the user.    
   
   
       17 . A communication device for backing up data stored on a portable data storage device, the communication device comprising: 
 a communication interface for communicating periodically or quasi-continuously with the portable data storage device over a short-range wireless communication link to back up data stored on the portable data storage device;    a communication interface for communicating with the portable data storage device over the short-range wireless communication link to transmit audio and/or video data from the portable data storage device to a user in real-time.    
   
   
       18 . A communication device according to  claim 17  further comprising an interface for transmitting audio and/or video data from the user to the portable data storage device in real-time.  
   
   
       19 . A communication device according to  claim 17  further comprising a device for monitoring receipt of real-time audio and/or video data at the portable data storage device and notifying the receipt of the data to a user.  
   
   
       20 . A communication device according to  claim 17  further comprising a device for displaying video and/or text-based data to the user.  
   
   
       21 . A communication device according to  claim 17  wherein the short-range wireless communication link comprises a BlueTooth™ communication link.  
   
   
       22 . A backup device for backing up data from a portable data storage device, the backup device comprising: 
 a short-range wireless communication link;    an interface for communicating periodically or quasi-continuously with the portable data storage device over the wireless communication link to back up data comprising a first data type;    an interface for communicating at a predetermined rate of recurrence to back up data comprising a second data type;    storage for storing the data obtained.    
   
   
       23 . A portable data storage device comprising: 
 a short-range wireless communication link for communicating with a backup device;    a storage device for storing data of a first data type and data of a second data type;    an interface for communicating periodically or quasi-continuously over the short-range wireless communication link to back up data of the first data type at the backup device;    an interface for communicating at a predetermined rate of recurrence over the short-range wireless communication link to back up data of the second data type at the backup device.