Abstract:
A system for enabling the reading on a reader of content stored in an external storage device is disclosed. The reader is a read-only device and has a display, a processor for controlling the operation of the reader, and a port for operative connection of the external storage device. The external storage device has a non-volatile storage and a central processor. The central processor is able to download to the reader the content stored in the non-volatile storage upon a pre-condition being established. The pre-condition is at least one of receipt of a correct encryption key from the reader, and arrival at a start date and time as determined by a real-time clock. The reader, external storage device, and a corresponding method are also disclosed.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]    This invention relates to a system, method and apparatus for reading the content of an external storage device, and for an external storage device to enable such a reading. 
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    External storage devices for use with computers and like apparatus have become common. For example, USB Flash drives are now quite small and have a storage capacity of up to several GB. Portable disc drives are now quite compact and have a storage capacity that is even greater. However, to read content stored on such an external storage device normally requires a machine such as a full-function PC, laptop, PDA or the like. Such machines are of necessity relatively complex and expensive as they are readers, generators, receivers and transmitters of content. A relatively simple and inexpensive machine is desirable. Also, controls over access to stored content such as by encryption and/or time may be of advantage. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]    According to an exemplary aspect there is provided a system for enabling the reading on a reader of content stored in an external storage device; the reader being a read-only device and having a display, a processor for controlling the operation of the reader, a port for operative connection of the external storage device; the external storage device having a non-volatile storage and a central processor, the central processor being able to download to the reader the content stored in the non-volatile storage upon a pre-condition being established; the pre-condition being at least one selected from the group consisting of: receipt of a correct encryption key from the reader, and arrival at a start date and time as determined by a real-time clock. 
         [0004]    The real-time clock may be a part of the external storage device. The reader may have a plurality of controls for controlling the display. The plurality of controls may include at least one of: colour, brightness, contrast, on/off, zoom, and cursor. The encryption key may be stored in the reader, and may be sent to the external storage device following operative connection of the external storage device and the reader. The central processor may store the start date and time. The central processor may also store an end date and time. The real-time clock may also determine arrival at the end date and time. Upon arrival at the end date and time, all downloading may cease and the content may no longer displayed on the reader. The reader may further comprise a buffer for smooth downloads and display. The external storage device may further comprise an encryption module for encrypting and decrypting the content using the encryption key. 
         [0005]    According to another exemplary aspect there is provided a reader, the reader being a read-only device and having a display, a processor for controlling the operation of the reader, a port for operative connection of the external storage device; the reader being able to download to the reader content stored in a non-volatile storage upon a pre-condition being established; the pre-condition being at least one selected from the group consisting of: sending of a correct encryption key by the reader to the external storage device, and arrival at a start date and time as determined by a real-time clock. 
         [0006]    The real-time clock may be a part of the external storage device or a part of the reader. The reader may have a plurality of controls for controlling the display. The plurality of controls may include at least one of: colour, brightness, contrast, on/off, zoom, and cursor. The encryption key may be stored in the reader, and may be sent to the external storage device following operative connection of the external storage device and the reader. The reader may further comprise a buffer for smooth downloads and display. The reader may be for use in the system described above. 
         [0007]    According to a further exemplary aspect there is provided an external storage device comprising a non-volatile storage and a central processor, the central processor being able to download to a reader content stored in the non-volatile storage upon a pre-condition being established; the pre-condition being at least one selected from the group consisting of: receipt of a correct encryption key from the reader, and arrival at a start date and time as determined by a real-time clock. 
         [0008]    The real-time clock may be a part of the external storage device. The encryption key may be stored in the reader and may be sent to the external storage device following operative connection of the external storage device and the reader. The central processor may store the start date and time. The central processor may also store an end date and time. The real-time clock may also determine arrival at the end date and time. Upon arrival at the end date and time, all downloading may cease and the content may no longer displayed on the reader. The external storage device may further comprise an encryption module for encrypting and decrypting the content using the encryption key. 
         [0009]    According to a final exemplary aspect there is provided a method for enabling the reading on a reader of content stored in an external storage device; the reader being a read-only device and having a display, a processor for controlling the operation of the reader, a port for operative connection of the external storage device; the external storage device having a non-volatile storage and a central processor; the method comprising connecting the external storage device to the reader using the port, and establishing a pre-condition, the central processor being able to download to the reader the content stored in the non-volatile storage upon the pre-condition being established; the pre-condition being at least one selected from the group consisting of: receipt of a correct encryption key from the reader, and arrival at a start date and time as determined by a real-time clock. 
         [0010]    The real-time clock may be a part of the external storage device. The encryption key may be stored in the reader and may be sent to the external storage device following operative connection of the external storage device and the reader. The central processor may store the start date and time. The central processor may also store an end date and time. The real-time clock may also determine arrival at the end date and time. Upon arrival at the end date and time, all downloading may ceases and the content may no longer be displayed on the reader. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily put into practical effect there shall now be described by way of non-limitative example only exemplary embodiments, the description being with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings. 
           [0012]    In the drawings: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an assembly of an exemplary reader and external storage device; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the exemplary reader of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the exemplary external storage device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart for an exemplary operation of the assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart for an alternative exemplary operation of the assembly of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart for a further exemplary operation of the assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]    To refer to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , there is shown a reader  100  and an external storage device  200 . The external storage device  200  as shown is a SUB Flash drive. However, it is not so limited and may be any form of external storage device including, but not limited to, disc drive, flash card, compact flash card, secure digital card, xD picture card, Memory Stick, smart media card, multimedia card or the like. The reader  100  has a port  102  for releasably and operatively receiving the external storage device  200 . preferably, the external storage device  200  is connected directly to the port  102 , although an intervening cable may be used if required or desired. 
         [0020]    The reader  100  has a power supply  104  that may be one or more batteries and/or mains supply for supplying power to a processor  108  and a display  112 . The processor  108  controls the operations of the reader  100 . The port  102  has an interface  10  that is operatively connected to the processor  108 . The display  112  has a display driver  110  operatively connected to the processor  108  and the display  112 . External controls for colour  114 , brightness  116  and/or contrast  118  may be provided, if required or desired. The external controls  114 ,  116 ,  118  may be simple “+ −” controls as often used on monitors and the like. 
         [0021]    In addition, “cursor” controls  120  are provided for controlling reading direction on display  112 —up or down. A zoom control (not shown) may also be provided. A final control may be an on/off switch  124 . 
         [0022]    Furthermore, an encryption key  122  may be stored in reader  100 , as will be understood from the description below. The encryption key  122  is pre-loaded into the reader  100 . It may be amended, replaced, updated or corrected from time-to-time by a control authority (not shown) using communication through port  102  to access the processor  108  and encryption key  122 . The encryption key  122  for a reader  100  is preferably unique for that reader  100 , although readers  100  for a common use may have a common encryption key  122 . 
         [0023]    The reader  100  does not have a key pad on keyboard, nor a touch sensitive screen. Its sole purpose is to display the data stored on external storage device  200 . It cannot amend, delete, or add to that data. The reader  100  is a read-only device. 
         [0024]    The external storage device  200  is preferably able to connect directly with the reader  100  via port  102 . The external storage device  200  has a processor  202  that is operatively connected to a connector  204  via a connector drives  206 . It is also operatively connected to a non-volatile storage or memory  208  via a storage controller  210 . 
         [0025]    The external storage device  200  also has a real-time clock  212 , and an encryption module  214 . The encryption module  214  is for encrypting and decrypting data stored in storage  208 . The real-time clock  212  is for controlling a time and date of release of data stored in storage  208 . The encryption module  214  and real-time clock  212  may be used together, independently, or not at all. This will depend on the requirements in relation to the data stored in storage  208 . 
         [0026]    There are three possible methods of operation:
       (i) no encryption and no time constraints;   (ii) encryption but no time constraints;   (iii) no encryption but with time constraints; and   (iv) both encryption and time constraints.       
 
         [0031]    The first possible method is therefore relatively standard and will not be described in detail. 
         [0032]    The second is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . At the start  400  the external storage device  200  is operatively connected to reader  100  by inserting connector  204  into port  102 . The processors  108 ,  202  then perform the usual handshake procedure ( 401 ). Upon completion of the handshake procedure, the reader  100  sends its pre-loaded encryption key  122  to the processor  202  and thus encryption module  214  ( 402 ). A determination is then made whether the key  122  is a match ( 403 ). If no, the process ends ( 408 ). If yes, the required data in storage  208  is decrypted using the key  122  ( 404 ) and downloaded to reader  100  ( 405 ). The data is then displayed at reader  100  on display screen  112  ( 406 ). Due to the potential size of the stored data, a buffer  126  may be included in reader  100  for smooth and continuous downloads and display. 
         [0033]    A determination is then made if the display is complete ( 407 ). This may be on a basis of time, all of the data having been read, user action in switching off reader  100 , and so forth. If yes, the process ends ( 408 ). If no, after a short time delay (e.g. a few minutes) ( 409 ) the process reverts to ( 407 ). 
         [0034]    The third is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . At the start  501  the external storage device  200  is operatively connected to reader  100  by inserting connector  204  into port  102 . The processors  108 ,  202  then perform the usual handshake procedure ( 502 ). Upon completion of the handshake procedure, a determination is then made whether it is the correct date and time for downloading to proceed ( 503 ) using real-time clock  212 . The correct date and time for downloading is pre-stored in processor  202  by an administrator (not shown). If no, after a short delay ( 504 ) the determination is repeated ( 505 ). Additionally or alternatively, the time gap from the present date and time to the pre-stored date and time is determined ( 510 ) and the process of ( 503 ) is repeated at the expiry of that time gap. If yes, the required data in storage  208  is downloaded to reader  100  ( 505 ). The data is then displayed at reader  100  on display screen  112  ( 506 ). Due to the potential size of the stored data, a buffer  126  may be again included in reader  100  for smooth and continuous downloads and display. 
         [0035]    A determination is then made if the display is complete ( 507 ). This may be on a basis of time, all of the data having been read, user action is switching off reader  100 , and so forth. By time it is meant that an expiry date and time may also be stored in processor  202  so that at the when the expiry time and date are arrived at, the downloading will cease and all data at the reader  100  will be removed such that all display of data at reader  100  ceases. If yes, the process ends ( 509 ). If no, after a short time delay (e.g. a few minutes, ( 508 ) the process reverts to ( 506 ). 
         [0036]    The fourth option is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . At the start  601  the external storage device  200  is operatively connected to reader  100  by inserting connector  204  into port  102 . The processors  108 ,  202  then perform the usual handshake procedure ( 602 ). Upon completion of the handshake procedure, the reader  100  sends its pre-loaded encryption key  122  to the process  202  and thus encryption module  214  ( 603 ). A determination is then made whether the key  122  is a match ( 604 ). If no, the process ends ( 611 ). If yes, a determination is made using real-time clock  212  whether the time to download ( 605 ) has arrived, or is just passed. Just passed is to allow a short time interval after the due date and time in case of delayed insertion of external storage device  200  into port  102 . If no, after a short delay ( 606 ) the process reverts to ( 605 ). If yes, the data is decrypted using key  122  ( 607 ), downloaded to reader  100  ( 608 ), and displayed on display screen  112  ( 609 ). Due to the potential size of the stored data, a buffer  126  may be again included in reader  100  for smooth and continuous downloads and display. 
         [0037]    A determination is then made if the display is complete ( 610 ). This may be on a basis of time, all of the data having been read, user action is switching off reader  100 , and so forth. By time it is meant that an expiry date and time may also be stored in processor  202  so that at the when the expiry time and date are arrived at, the downloading will cease and all data at the reader  100  will be removed and encrypted such that all display of data at reader  100  ceases. If yes, the process ends ( 611 ). If no, after a short time delay (e.g. a few minutes, ( 612 ) the process reverts to ( 609 ). 
         [0038]    The downloading by time may be for different files at different times. Similarly, the downloading may be for different files for different encryption keys. 
         [0039]    The reader  100  and the external storage device  200  may therefore be used to advantage in those situations where it is desired to have one or more persons read content of the external storage device  200  but only at a predetermined date and time. This may be relevant in situations such as, for example, examinations where the content is the examination paper; media briefings where the content is the full media release; government agencies or departments for the release of important papers such as, for example, budget papers; and so forth. By having an expiry time, the examination use is enhanced as the expiry time would be the end time of the examination. In this way candidates must stop work at the allocated time as the examination paper is no longer readable by the candidate. Even if the external storage device  200  is inserted into the port  102  and reader  100  switched on before the pre-stored start date and time, downloading will not commence until that pre-stored start date and time; and at the expiry sate and time all reading would cease. 
         [0040]    The real-time clock  212  may form part of the reader  100  rather than the external storage device  200 . 
         [0041]    Whilst there has been described in the foregoing description exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the technology concerned that many variations in details of design, construction and/or operation may be made without departing from the present invention.