Abstract: The present invention relates to an architectural development of a monolithic integrated circuit with dual public key cryptographic protected central processing units in a computing device, with large external non-volatile reprogrammable memory enabled to perform cryptographically controlled transactions for identification of persons, computers, and or mobile devices, for controlling access to physical and computational devices, for multivendor monetary transactions, and to serve as a safe depository of data, especially useful for encapsulating applications, programmed and updated by varied entitled programmers such that one or many vendors' applications are mutually exclusive, and virtually unable to corrupt, infringe, change or affect other vendor applications.

Abstract: This invention discloses apparatus and methods for accelerating processing, loading and unloading of data, from and to a plurality of memory addresses in a CPU having an accumulator, and to a memory-mapped coprocessing device for continuous integer computations.

Abstract: An appliance that includes a host device and a memory unit with a primary memory, and a method of operating the appliance. According to one aspect of the appliance, the primary memory is nonvolatile and the memory unit also includes a volatile memory a power sensor and a controller. When the power sensor detects interruption of power to the memory unit, the controller copies data selectively from the volatile memory to the primary memory. Power for this copying is provided by a secondary power source such as a battery or a capacitor. According to another aspect of the appliance, the appliance includes primary and secondary power sources, and the memory unit also includes a charge pump whose functions include both boosting power from the primary source for the primary memory and charging the secondary source.

Abstract: A portable storage device including a microprocessor and a secure user data area, the microprocessor operable to perform on-the-fly encryption/decryption of secure data stored on the storage device under a user password, the microprocessor also operable to exclude access to the secure user data area unless the user password is provided.

Abstract: An improved method for affecting wear leveling in all units of a flash media, with a considerable decrease in usage of system resources. This is enabled by providing an algorithm that ensures that static areas do not remain static, and that the static data within them is guaranteed to move to other physical locations, such that wear leveling is achieved for all units. The method comprises: launching the wear leveling method once per some large number of write or erase operations done by the Flash data manager; selecting a unit in the media in a manner that successive selections will ultimately select all units; and moving the selected unit data to another free unit, and erasing the selected unit.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a data storage medium, for example one or more flash memory modules, and a direct interface, to the data storage medium, that supports a file system protocol. Preferably, the data storable device also includes a physical communication interface such as a USB interface or a wireless interface, a user interface and a power source. The scope of the invention also includes appliances that include such data storage devices.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing the performance of a flash-based storage system, using specialized flash memory controller(s). Several methods of performance improvement are suggested such as adding DMA capability to flash memory controller to reduce the data transfer time; connecting flash chips to a multitude of flash memory controllers, which allow continuation of the data transfer to the system, even after the page programming operation has started; and connecting flash chips to a multitude of DMA-capable flash memory controllers to allow data transfer directly from one flash chip to another. In addition, a multi-controller design is suggested, which efficiently combines these performance-improving methods. In its best mode of operation, the present invention is a Flash-based storage system with several flash controllers or a multi-controller with DMA interface, organized in a way that reduces the page programming, page fetch and page copy time.

Abstract: A device, a method and a system for reading/writing data, preferably of a particular type, from a first dedicated port of a NVM storage, while other data is reading/written to at least a second general port of the NVM storage. Preferably, while data is being continually read/written through the dedicated port of the NVM storage, the logic processor which controls the NVM storage optionally “sleeps”, or reverts to a lower power consumption mode. The NVM storage of the present invention may optionally feature a plurality of ports, as long as at least one dedicated port for reading/writing data, preferably of a particular type, and at least one general port for reading/writing data, is provided. According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the at least one dedicated ports is a port for reading/writing streamed data, such as streaming audio and/or video data for example.

Abstract: An ASIC for implementing digital rights management includes a processor for requesting encrypted digital data from a server and decrypting the data, and a player for transforming the decrypted data to analog signals. Preferably, the ASIC is tamper-resistant. Preferably, all the management code of the ASIC is stored on a ROM in the ASIC. A device for receiving, decrypting and displaying encrypted digital data includes the ASIC, and also a transceiver for communicating with the server, a display mechanism for displaying the analog signals, and a nonvolatile memory for storing the encrypted data. A system for storing and displaying digital data includes both the server and the device. Preferably, the server is configured to send to the device only the encrypted digital data and associated decryption keys.

Abstract: A method and system for increasing read and write performance of flash-based storage systems, by using RAM buffers with multiple accesses. The increase of read and write performance of flash-based storage system is achieved by performing “from RAM” and “to RAM” transfer operations simultaneously. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the invention provides a system for enabling simultaneous data transfer from a host interface to flash media and from flash media to a host interface. It also provides for a system for synchronizing memory-to-host and flash-to-memory transfers, during the host read operation. There is further provided a system of synchronizing host-to-memory and memory-to-flash transfers, during the host write operation.

Abstract: A data storage and processing device is reversibly attachable to a selected member of a set of appliances. The device includes a data storage medium and a processor. Each appliance includes appropriate functional components, a power source and a user interface. The device receives power from the attached appliance. Commands for operating the attached appliance are stored in the data storage medium and are executed by the processor in response to user instructions received from the attached appliance in order to operate the functional components. Preferably, the device receives power only from the attached appliance, and the functional components are operated, in response to the user instructions, only by the device's processor.

Abstract: A system and method for managing flash devices that are limited to performing only sequential write operations. After a write request has been received, a physical portion of the flash device is located for writing the data, according to the location of a previously written physical portion which was the last such portion to be written in the same block, such that the physical portion is physically at a higher address within the block than the previously written physical portion. In other words, the write operation is performed in a place that does not violate the sequential write limitation, rather than being performed at a randomly chosen location. This portion is preferably a location in a block, such as a page for example, such that if a page is available for writing in the same block, the data is written to that page. Again, this page is preferably at a higher address than any previously written page in that block.

Abstract: This invention discloses a system for safe collection of payment in return for goods, values or services, the system including a multiplicity of electronic system elements wherein each individual one of the elements has a purse storing an amount of credit for value receivable granted to the individual system element, each purse including a purse monitor operative to sign and authenticate a transaction record of each transaction in which the purse uses some of the credit for value receivable which it has been granted, and a purse control unit operative to prevent the purse, off-line, from exceeding the credit for value receivable which it has been granted.

Abstract: A ruggedized file system, which provides ruggedness to non-volatile storage media at the device driver level. The ruggedized block device driver implementation provides ruggedness at the device driver level, thereby allowing atomic sequences of operations by the file system. Accordingly, the device driver is told that the current data state is a “fall-back” consistent state, into which the system should wake up if interrupted prior to completion of the sequence, following which operations are executed as required by the file system, including erasing, writing or overwriting blocks. The device driver is further told when the atomic sequence is complete, such that a new consistent state is thereby defined. It is, accordingly, the responsibility of the device driver to ensure that either the sequence completes and the file system reaches the target consistent state, or if power is lost or any other failure occurs in the middle, the file system will wake up in the initial fallback state.

Abstract: A processor that executes boot code in its cache memory, and a computer that includes the processor. The processor includes a download boot machine for retrieving the boot code from a sequential access memory device, such as a flash memory or a mass storage device, or from a random access memory such as a serial EEPROM.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing the performance of a flash-based storage system, using specialized flash memory controller(s). Several methods of performance improvement are suggested such as adding DMA capability to flash memory controller to reduce the data transfer time; connecting flash chips to a multitude of flash memory controllers, which allow continuation of the data transfer to the system, even after the page programming operation has started; and connecting flash chips to a multitude of DMA-capable flash memory controllers to allow data transfer directly from one flash chip to another. In addition, a multi-controller design is suggested, which efficiently combines these performance-improving methods. In its best mode of operation, the present invention is a Flash-based storage system with several flash controllers or a multi-controller with DMA interface, organized in a way that reduces the page programming, page fetch and page copy time.

Abstract: A pocket-size computer peripheral system includes a computer peripheral device made up of at least two separable portions and an attachment bracket. The attachment bracket forms a sliding interconnection between the system and pocketable personal articles. Additionally, or alternatively, the attachment bracket selectively assumes one of two different attachment states with the separable portions of the device.

Abstract: A data storage and exchange device includes a non-volatile memory, a first interface for exchanging data between the non-volatile memory and a computer, and a second interface for exchanging data between the non-volatile memory and a mass storage device. The data storage and exchange device is operative only to exchange data between the non-volatile memory and the computer, between the computer and the mass storage device, and possibly between the non-volatile memory and the mass storage device even in the absence of the computer.

Abstract: A system for safe collection of payment by a vehicle operator from riders, the system including a multiplicity of electronic payment receipt generators, each operable by a vehicle operator, wherein each individual one of the payment receipt generators includes an electronic purse storing an amount of electronic cash, each electronic purse including an electronic cash loader operative to use some of the electronic cash to generate a payment receipt to be given by the vehicle operator to a rider, and an electronic purse control unit operative to prevent said electronic cash loader from exceeding said amount of electronic cash, thereby limiting the vehicle operator's entitlement to collect payments from riders, and an electronic cashier purse operative to increment the electronic purse of each electronic payment receipt generator by the amount of payment collected by the vehicle operator to whom the electronic payment receipt generator is assigned.

Abstract: A system and method for more flexibly managing flash memory devices, such that these devices can be more efficiently used to store data as flash disks. The present invention provides an improvement by enabling erase units of different sizes to be erased. Preferably, the present invention is also operative with flash memory devices which are capable of erasing the memory in a plurality of different erase unit sizes, and more preferably, is able to select the most efficient erase unit size for erasing. The present invention is able to optionally and more preferably use a plurality of different decision rules in order to select the most efficient method for erasing and/or reading/writing data to the flash memory device. Most preferably, the present invention is able to detect the capabilities of the flash memory device, in order to be automatically operative with a plurality of different types of flash memory technologies.