Patent ID: 8590060

Claim:
A virtual device interface for a removable hard drive cartridge, the virtual device interface comprising: a kernel component configured to run in kernel space in a driver stack of an operating system, wherein the kernel component: receives a plurality of commands from a process; separates the plurality of commands into at least: a first set of commands comprising read and/or write commands, and a second set of commands comprising commands that control a cartridge dock, the cartridge dock being configured to receive the removable hard drive cartridge; and passes the first set of commands to a drive interface port to read and/or write data using the removable hard drive cartridge; and a user-space driver configured to run in user space, wherein the user-space driver: receives the second set of commands from the kernel component, authenticates one or both of the kernel component and the removable hard drive cartridge, and authorizes use of the removable hard drive cartridge.