Patent ID: 6931503

Claim:
A storage device for a host computer system, the storage device comprising: storage means for storing information; intelligent means for controlling the transfer of information to and from the storage means; and interfacing means for interfacing the storage device with the host computer system and via which information is transferred to and from the storage means under the control of said intelligent means, the storage means comprising: a storage medium including a boot partition divided into a plurality of sectors, the boot partition including a boot sector where the host computer system seeks code to perform operating system boot of the host computer system; non-volatile read-only memory (ROM) means for storing firmware for controlling operation of the storage device; and volatile random-access-memory (RAM) means; wherein supervising means is incorporated in said storage means for operating said intelligent means so as to protect information stored in the storage medium, said supervising means being incorporated at least partly as firmware which is stored in said non-volatile ROM means, and wherein the storage device further includes: a host executable code segment, stored in said storage means, for allowing user control of the supervising means via the host computer system and for controlling initiation of operating system boot in the host computer system; and loader means stored in the storage means and comprising host executable code for loading said code segment to the host computer system and causing the host computer system to execute the loaded code segment; and wherein said supervising firmware stored in the ROM means is adapted to intercept any request for said boot sector, issued by the host computer system in use thereof, and to supply said loader means to the host computer system to satisfy the request.