Storage device with concurrent intialization and fingerprint recognition

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12367270-B2
Application number	US-202318365021-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 3, 2023
Priority date	Sep 17, 2019
Publication date	Jul 22, 2025
Grant date	Jul 22, 2025

Abstract

A method is provided for operating a storage device having biometric security protection, including: simultaneously starting both a device initialization operation and a biometric recognition operation; and if the device initialization operation has completed and the biometric recognition operation has successfully completed, setting the storage device to a normal access mode permitting external access to the storage device in accordance with the biometric security protection, wherein the device initialization operation and the biometric recognition operation are performed concurrently.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a storage device having biometric security protection, the method comprising:
electrically connecting the storage device with an external host device for supplying power to the storage device;
performing a storage device initialization operation immediately upon receiving the power;
performing a biometric recognition operation immediately upon receiving the power;
when an access request to attempt to access the storage device is received before the biometric recognition operation is successfully completed, non-displaying a at least one first file that is stored in the storage device and restricted from access by the biometric security protection; and
when the access request to attempt to access the storage device is received before the biometric recognition operation is successfully completed, displaying at least one second file that is stored in the storage device and not restricted from access by the biometric security protection.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
when the storage device initialization operation has completed and the biometric recognition operation has successfully completed, displaying the first file.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
when the access request to attempt to access the storage device is received before the biometric recognition operation is successfully completed, displaying only a one second file that is stored in the storage device and not restricted from access by the biometric security protection.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the storage device variably operates in one of a secure mode and a non-secure mode based on the biometric recognition operation.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the storage device includes:
a secure partition area externally accessible in the secure mode but not in the non-secure mode; and
a public partition area externally accessible in at least the non-secure mode.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein:
in the secure mode, the storage device performs the storage device initialization operation and the biometric recognition operation, and the secure partition area is externally accessible after the storage device initialization operation has completed and the biometric recognition operation has successfully completed.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein:
in the non-secure mode, the storage device performs the storage device initialization operation, and the public partition area is externally accessible regardless of completing the biometric recognition operation.

8. The method of claim 1 , performing the storage device initialization operation comprising:
turning on and initializing a storage controller included in the storage device;
initializing at least one nonvolatile memory included in the storage device;
providing predetermined information externally such that the storage device is externally recognizable; and
if the storage device is externally recognized, enabling a drive or a partition corresponding to the storage device to enter a standby state,
wherein the storage device initialization operation is started before the biometric recognition operation is completed.

9. The method of claim 1 , performing the biometric recognition operation comprising:
performing a biometric preparation operation including enabling a biometric sensor;
comparing biometric indicia sensed by the biometric sensor with registered biometric indicia from the storage device;
if the biometric indicia sensed by the biometric sensor matches the registered biometric indicia, determining that the biometric recognition operation has successfully completed; and
if the biometric indicia sensed by the biometric sensor does not match the registered biometric indicia, determining that the biometric recognition operation is unsuccessful.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein, if a number of times that the biometric recognition operation is unsuccessful exceeds a predetermined number of times, the first file is deleted.

11. A storage device having biometric security protection, the storage device comprising:
a plurality of nonvolatile memories;
a storage controller configured to control operations of the plurality of nonvolatile memories; and
at least one biometric sensor configured to sense biometric indicia of a user,
wherein power is supplied to the storage device by electrically connecting the storage device with an external host device,
wherein the storage controller is configured to perform a storage device initialization operation immediately upon receiving the power,
wherein the storage controller is configured to perform a biometric recognition operation immediately upon receiving the power,
wherein, when an access request to attempt to access the storage device is received before the biometric recognition operation is successfully completed, a at least one first file that is stored in the storage device and restricted from access by the biometric security protection is not displayed, and
wherein, when the access request to attempt to access the storage device is received before the biometric recognition operation is successfully completed, at least one second file that is stored in the storage device and not restricted from access by the biometric security protection is displayed.

12. The storage device of claim 11 , wherein, when the storage device initialization operation has completed and the biometric recognition operation has successfully completed, the first file is displayed.

13. The storage device of claim 11 , wherein, when the access request to attempt to access the storage device is received before the biometric recognition operation is successfully completed, only a one second file that is stored in the storage device and not restricted from access by the biometric security protection is displayed.

14. The storage device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a biometric recognition controller configured to control the at least one biometric sensor, to register the biometric indicia of the user, and to compare biometric indicia sensed by the at least one biometric sensor with registered biometric indicia.

15. The storage device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a state indicator configured to display a result of the biometric recognition operation.

16. The storage device of claim 11 , wherein, if a number of times that the biometric recognition operation is unsuccessful exceeds a predetermined number of times, the first file is deleted.

17. A biometric recognition controller for biometric security protection, the biometric recognition controller is configured to:
perform a storage device initialization operation for a storage device including the biometric recognition controller;
perform a biometric recognition operation comprising:
performing a biometric preparation operation including enabling a biometric sensor connected to the biometric recognition controller;
comparing biometric indicia sensed by the biometric sensor with registered biometric indicia of the storage device;
if the biometric indicia sensed by the biometric sensor matches the registered biometric indicia, determining that the biometric recognition operation has successfully completed; and
if the biometric indicia sensed by the biometric sensor does not match the registered biometric indicia, determining that the biometric recognition operation is unsuccessful;
when an access request to attempt to access the storage device is received before the biometric recognition operation is successfully completed, not display a at least one first fil

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Youngjin
• Jung Ilgyu

Classifications

• G06V40/53

  Measures to keep reference information secret, e.g. cancellable biometrics · CPC title

• G06V10/98

  Detection or correction of errors, e.g. by rescanning the pattern or by human intervention; Evaluation of the quality of the acquired patterns · CPC title

• G06V40/13

  Sensors therefor · CPC title

• G06V40/1365 Primary

  Matching; Classification · CPC title

• G06V40/1306

  non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing · CPC title