Patent ID: 6195732
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a data processing system comprising a host system and a memory device including a data storage medium of a predetermined size and corresponding capacity, a secure method of managing available capacity of the storage medium, comprising the steps of:(a) maintaining an authentication list comprising a plurality of entries containing information including information uniquely identifying a plurality of memory devices;(b) selecting a section of said data storage medium for data storage, said section having a size representing the available capacity of the memory device;(c) maintaining verification information in the memory device including information uniquely identifying the memory device; and(d) in response to receipt in the host system of a request for changing the available capacity of the memory device:(1) obtaining verification information including said identifying information from said memory device;(2) searching said list to find an entry including identification information matching that obtained from the memory device to authorize said change; and(3) if a match is found, then: (i) generating a change command for directing the memory device to change said available capacity; (ii) sending the change command to the memory device; and (iii) the memory device executing said change command by steps including changing the size of said section.