Patent ID: 6970318

Claim:
An electronically undatable external labeling system for a data storage element, comprising: an external surface of said data storage element; an electronic persistent visual display at said external surface, for providing a visual display; an input for providing a signal for updating said visual display of said electronic persistent visual display; an update agent for operating said electronic persistent visual display in accordance with said signal of said input to update said visual display, such that said visual display comprises an undated persistent visual display label; a nonvolatile electronic memory provided at said data storage element, for storing information related to said visual display; a memory input for providing a signal for altering said information of said nonvolatile electronic memory, updating said information, such that said electronic persistent visual display and said information both are electronically updatable; and a refresh control for sensing said nonvolatile electronic memory, and providing a refresh signal related to said sensed nonvolatile electronic memory, for refreshing said visual display of said electronic persistent visual display; and operating said update agent for updating said visual display of said electronic persistent visual display in accordance with said refresh signal of said refresh control.