Patent Application
20210208795
This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 109100057 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Jan. 2, 2020, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present disclosure relates to storage device data management methods, and in particular to a storage device data management method compatible with different storage specifications.
Owing to rapid technological advancement, personal computers (PC) were invented. Personal computers process abundant data and perform wording processing, quickly and efficiently.
To access a personal computer, a user turns on the power supply to the personal computer. Then, the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) installed on the personal computer not only initializes and detects various hardware of the personal computer to confirm whether the various hardware of the personal computer can function well, but also detects the states, model numbers, specifications of the various hardware. After option ROM corresponding to all the hardware has been loaded to the personal computer, the BIOS loads a start program from a hard disk drive of the personal computer and thus uses the start program to load an operating system installed on the hard disk drive. After that, the user can begin using the personal computer. The BIOS is also known as system firmware, as it is installed on the personal computer prior to delivery thereof.
Data and documents are stored in a storage device of the personal computer. The storage device is, for example, a hard disk drive. The speed at which the personal computers process data and perform wording processing depends on the capacity and access speed of their hard disk drives. Therefore, selection of appropriate hard disk drives is of vital importance.
Hard disk drives store applications and related data, which are required to start personal computers, and personal data. To ensure the security of the stored applications, related data and personal data, specifications of the hard disk drives vary from interface specification to interface specification. One of the conventional specifications of hard disk drives is Advanced Technology Attachment security hard disk drive password (ATA HDD password). The ATA HDD password is applicable to Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) hard disk drives. Users install ATA hard disk drives on personal computers and set, in the BIOS, HDD passwords corresponding to the ATA hard disk drives. To access the ATA hard disk drives, the personal computers read related setting parameters of the ATA hard disk drives and then request the users to enter user data (username, user password) so as to unlock the access function of the ATA hard disk drives.
Furthermore, the TCG Opal storage specification is developed by the Trusted Computing Group, TCG. The TCG Opal storage specification is a security specification set applied to related storage devices, such as hard disk drives, in accordance with the encryption of the hard disk drives. Each hard disk drive which the TCG Opal storage specification is applied to is a self encrypting device (SED). The encryption takes place inside the hard disk drive. To access the hard disk drive, the BIOS reads related setting parameters of the hard disk drive to perform identity verification and then unlocks the access function of the hard disk drive.
A hard disk drive which the TCG Opal storage specification is applied to and a hard disk drive which the conventional ATA HDD password specification is applied to are different in terms of storage encryption's framework and operation commands and incompatible in terms of development, testing and operation; consequently, both require their respective setting encryption & decryption interfaces to the detriment of labor efficiency, time efficiency and ease of system selection.
An objective of the present disclosure is to provide a storage device data management method compatible with different storage specifications, which provides a storage specification setting mode for performing configuration according to a state of a hard disk drive and processing data about a storage specification according to the configured data, so as to be compatible with related configuration of hard disk drives of different storage specifications in the storage specification setting mode.
To achieve at least the above objective, the present disclosure provides a storage device data management method compatible with different storage specifications is applied to a computer device and provides a storage specification setting mode, the method comprising the steps of:
configuring a storage specification parameter data corresponding to the storage device according to a detected state of a storage device;
determining whether the storage device conforms with a security supported according to the storage specification parameter data;
determining, upon an affirmative determination, whether the storage device is locked according to the storage specification parameter data; and
providing, upon an affirmative determination, an unlocking routine.
Therefore, a storage device data management method compatible with different storage specifications is provided and applied to a computer device to provide a storage specification setting mode. The method includes: configuring a storage specification parameter data corresponding to a storage device according to a detected state of the storage device; and providing an unlocking routine when the storage device conforms with a security support and the storage device is locked. The method involves detecting a state of the storage device, configuring the storage specification parameter data, and determining whether the storage device conforms with the security support or is locked according to the storage specification parameter data, so as to provide the unlocking routine. Therefore, hard disk drives with different storage specifications can be configured in the storage specification setting mode to achieve enhanced ease of use, efficiency and compatibility.
To facilitate understanding of the object, characteristics and effects of this present disclosure, embodiments together with the attached drawings for the detailed description of the present disclosure are provided.
A storage device data management method compatible with different storage specifications is provided in the first preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to
configuring a storage specification parameter data corresponding to the storage device according to a detected state of a storage device (S20);
determining whether the storage device conforms with a security supported state according to the storage specification parameter data (S30); in this embodiment, if no, showing that the storage device does not support a password (S31), and is displayed on the computer device; the displaying that the storage device does not support a password means that the storage device does not conform with security supported password management;
determining, upon an affirmative determination, whether the storage device is locked according to the storage specification parameter data (S40): and
providing, upon an affirmative determination, an unlocking routine (S50).
In this embodiment, the storage specification setting mode comprises a user interface. After having detected the state of the storage device, a user uses the user interface to confirm various states of the storage device and configure the storage specification parameter data corresponding to the storage device as needed to configure the storage device with different storage specifications. The storage password settings of the storage device with different storage specifications are simulated in accordance with the related settings provided by the storage specification setting mode. Then, this embodiment entails determining whether the storage device conforms with the security supported state or has been locked according to the storage specification parameter data, so as to provide the unlocking routine. Consequently, hard disk drives with different storage specifications can be configured in the storage specification setting mode to achieve enhanced ease of use, efficiency and compatibility. In this embodiment, the question whether the storage device conforms with the security supported state also means the question whether the storage device supports a password.
Referring to
The second preferred embodiment and the first preferred embodiment are substantially identical in terms of technical features. Referring to
detecting whether the storage device supports an Advanced Technology Attachment security hard disk drive password (ATA HDD password) (S21); and
setting, upon an affirmative detection, the support flag state data of the storage device to “1” (S22), and continuing the step “determining whether the storage device conforms with a security supported state according to the storage specification parameter data (S30),” so as to determine the specifications supported by the storage device and thus accurately set related parameters.
Referring to
detecting whether the storage device supports an ATA HDD password (S21);
if no, detecting whether the storage device supports a TCG Opal storage specification (Trusted Computing Group Opal Storage Specification, TCG Opal storage specification) (S23); and
setting, upon an affirmative detection, the support flag state data of the storage device to “1” (S24), and continuing the step “determining whether the storage device conforms with a security supported state according to the storage specification parameter data (S30),” so as to determine the specifications supported by the storage device and thus accurately set related parameters.
The method further comprises the steps of: detecting whether the storage device supports a TCG Opal storage specification (S23); and, if no, setting the support flag state data of the storage device to “0” (S25), and continuing the step “determining whether the storage device conforms with a security supported state according to the storage specification parameter data (S30).” The storage device does not support the ATA HDD password or the TCG Opal storage specification, and thus the method is effective in setting the support flag state data of the storage device to “0” to quickly determine whether the storage device supports a security supported state, thereby enhancing processing efficiency.
In this embodiment, the method advantageously involves detecting whether the storage device supports ATA HDD password specification or supports TCG Opal storage specification and providing storage specification parameter data for the storage device and thus renders it necessary to determine whether the storage device supports the security supported state or not, regardless of the specifications supported by the storage device, such that the user only needs to use the same user interface in order to control the storage device, thereby enhancing the ease of use and compatibility of storage devices with different specifications by using a single user interface.
The way, in this embodiment, of determining whether the storage specification parameter data conforms with the security supported state is further described in detail below. Referring to
In this embodiment, the storage specification parameter data of the storage device further comprises a locked flag state data, and the method involves determining whether the storage device has been locked. Referring to
Referring to
The method further comprises the steps of:
detecting whether the storage device supports an ATA HDD password (S611);
if no, detecting whether the storage device supports a TCG Opal storage specification (S613);
if yes, determining whether the storage device has enabled security password protection according to the enable flag state data of the storage specification parameter data (S614);
if no, setting a first level security password (S615);
determining whether a second level security password exists (S616); and
configuring, upon an affirmative detection, an operation authority level attributed to the storage device and corresponding to the first level security password (S617).
In this embodiment, the method advantageously comprises detecting the specifications supported by the storage device and thus accurately setting a security password, so as to enhance usage security. The security password setting for supporting a TCG Opal storage specification is simulated to approximate to supporting an ATA HDD password setting mode, such that the present disclosure is effective in supporting the storage device with different specifications by a single user interface, so as to enhance ease of use and compatibility.
In this embodiment, the method comprises: determining whether the storage device has enabled security password protection according to whether the enable flag state data is “1”; determining that the storage device has been enabled if the enable flay state data is “1” (if yes); and determining that the storage device has not been enabled if the enable flag state data is not “1” (i.e., the enable flag state data is “0”) (if no).
In this embodiment, the first level security password corresponds to user1 in the TCG Opal storage specification, i.e., a secondary security password. The second level security password corresponds to a password of Admin1 in the TCG Opal storage specification, i.e., primary security password. When it comes to a hard disk drive which supports the TCG Opal storage specification, verification must be performed on the second level security password and then on the first level security password; consequently, the first level security password depends on the second level security password.
In this embodiment, the operation authority level corresponds to the reading, writing, locking and unlocking of the storage device.
The method further comprises the step “determining whether the storage device has been enabled according to the enable flag state data of the storage specification parameter data (S614)” and, if yes, changing the first level security password (S618).
The method further comprises the step “determining whether a second level security password exists (S616),” if no, setting and storing the second level security password (S619), and continuing the step “setting an operation authority level data attributed to the storage device and corresponding to the first level security password (S617).”
In this embodiment, the method further comprises the step “detecting whether the storage device supports a TCG Opal storage specification (S613)” and, if no, confirming that the storage device does not support password configuration (S620).
Therefore, the user sets a related authority level password for supporting the storage device with different specifications in the user interface by the first password setting routine to enhance ease of use and efficiency.
Referring to
The method further comprises the steps of:
detecting whether the storage device supports an ATA HDD password (S611′);
if no, detecting whether the storage device supports a TCG Opal storage specification (S613′);
if yes, determining whether the storage device has been enabled according to the enable flag state data of the storage specification parameter data (S614′);
if no, activating a configuration function to set a second level security password (S615′); and
storing the second level security password (S616′).
In this embodiment, the second level security password corresponds to Admin1 in the TCG Opal storage specification and is the highest authority level password.
The method further comprises the steps of:
determining whether the storage device has been enabled according to the enable flag state data in the storage specification parameter data (S614′); and
if yes, changing the second level security password (S617′) and continuing the step “storing the second level security password (S616′).”
The method further comprises the steps of:
detecting whether the storage device supports a TCG Opal storage specification (S613′); and
if no, confirming that the storage device does not support password configuration (S618′).
In this embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of: determining whether the storage device has enabled security password protection according to whether the enable flag state data is “1”; determining that the storage device has been enabled if the enable flag state data is “1” (if yes); and determining that the storage device has not been enabled if the enable flag state data is not “1” (i.e., the enable flag state data is “0”) (if no). If the storage device has enabled security password protection and the storage device supports an ATA HDD password, it will be necessary to set the first security password or second security password in order to access the storage device with a view to enhancing usage security.
Referring to
In this embodiment, the first security password corresponds to the ATA HDD password and is a user password.
The method further comprises the steps of:
detecting whether the storage device supports an ATA HDD password (S631);
if no, detecting whether the storage device supports a TCG Opal storage specification (S633);
if yes, determining whether the storage device has been enabled according to the enable flag state data of the storage specification parameter data (S634);
if no, ending the first security password disable subroutine; if yes, determining whether a second level security password exists (S635); and
configuring, upon an affirmative detection, to disable a first level security password and disable an operation authority level attributed to the storage device and corresponding to the first level security password (S636).
In this embodiment, the purpose of the step “determining whether a second level security password exists (S635)” is to disable the first level security password, because the first level security password depends on the second level security password.
The method further comprises the steps of: determining whether a second level security password exists (S635); and, if no, setting and storing the second level security password (S637) and continuing the step “configuring to disable a first level security password and disable an operation authority level attributed to the storage device and corresponding to the first level security password (S636).”
In this embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of: detecting whether the storage device supports a TCG Opal storage specification (S633); and, if no, confirming that the storage device does not support security password disable (S638).
Referring to
In this embodiment, the first security password corresponding to the ATA HDD password is a user password.
The method further comprises the steps of:
detecting whether the storage device supports an ATA HDD password (S631′);
if no, detecting whether the storage device supports a TCG Opal storage specification (S633′);
if yes, determining whether the storage device has been enabled according to the enable flag state data of the storage specification parameter data (S634′); and
configuring, upon an affirmative detection, to disable a second level security password (S635′).
In this embodiment, after the second level security password has been disabled, related setting corresponding to the second level security password is restored. In this embodiment, if no, end the second security password disable subroutine.
The method further comprises the steps of: detecting whether the storage device supports a TCG Opal storage specification (S633′); and, if no, confirming that the storage device does not support security password disable (S636′).
The seventh preferred embodiment and the preceding preferred embodiments are substantially identical in terms of technical features. Referring to
detecting whether the storage device supports an ATA HDD password (S501);
if yes, entering a second security password (S502);
determining whether the storage device has been unlocked successfully (S503); and
if yes, confirming that the storage device has been unlocked.
The method further comprises the steps of:
determining whether the unlock is successful (S503);
if no, entering a first security password (S504);
determining whether the storage device has been unlocked successfully (S505);
if yes, confirming that the storage device has been unlocked successfully; and
if no, confirming that the storage device has failed to be unlocked.
The method further comprises the steps of:
detecting whether the storage device supports an ATA HDD password (S501);
if no, detecting whether the storage device supports a TCG Opal storage specification (S506);
if yes, entering a second level security password (S507);
determining whether the storage device has been unlocked successfully(S508);
if yes, confirming that the storage device has been unlocked successfully;
if no, entering a first level security password (S509) and continuing the step “determining whether the storage device has been unlocked successfully (S505)”;
if yes, confirming that the storage device has been unlocked successfully; and
if no, confirming that the storage device has failed to be unlocked.
In this embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of: detecting whether the storage device supports a TCG Opal storage specification (S506); and, if no, confirming that the storage device does not support unlock (S510) and confirming that the unlock fails.
In this embodiment, the determining whether the storage device has been unlocked successfully according to the entered first security password and second security password is followed by comparing the first level security password or second level security password with a password preset for the storage device. If they are found to be the same, determine that the unlock is successful. If they are found to be different, determine that the unlock fails or request the user to enter another password. The unlocking routine is effective in unlocking the storage device, allowing the computer device to access the storage device, and configuring the storage device for any other related functions.
Referring to
The method further comprises the steps of:
detecting whether the storage device supports an ATA HDD password (S71);
if no, detecting whether the storage device supports a TCG Opal storage specification (S73);
if yes, determining whether the storage device has been enabled according to the enable flag state data of the storage specification parameter data (S74);
if no, setting the locking protection flag state data of the storage specification parameter data of the storage device to “1” (S75); and
if yes, ending configuration.
The storage device data management method compatible with different storage specifications according to the present disclosure advantageously comprises detecting the state of the storage device, configuring the storage specification parameter data, and determining whether the storage device conforms with the security supported state or has been locked according to the storage specification parameter data, so as to provide an unlocking routine. Therefore, the method allows hard disk drives with different storage specifications to be configured in the storage specification setting mode, so as to enhance ease of use, efficiency and compatibility.
While the present disclosure has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure set forth in the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 109100057 | Jan 2020 | TW | national |
