Abstract: A digital media device for providing digital media services to a mobile phone is disclosed. In exemplary embodiments, the device includes: a phone memory card that is reversibly deployable to a port of the mobile phone; and a digital media-player application residing on the phone memory card, wherein the combination of the digital media device and the mobile phone is operative to effect a playback of a media file, using the digital media-player application and using at least one of: an operating system; user controls; a visual display system, and an audio system. Optionally, the device further includes: a digital rights-management engine residing on the phone memory card for providing digital rights-management services for at least one media file. Optionally, the device further includes: a media-download engine operative to effect a download of at least one media file into the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: To store input data in a plurality of memory cells, a mapping function of bit sequences to physical parameter states of the cells is provided. The cells are programmed, in accordance with the mapping function, to store the input data, in a way that would store uniformly distributed data with a programming state distribution other than any native state distribution of the mapping function. To store input data in a single memory cell, a mapping function of bit sequences to states of a physical parameter of the cell, such that if uniformly distributed data were stored in a plurality of such memory cells then the states of the physical parameter of the cells would be distributed non-uniformly, is provided. The memory cell is programmed to store the input data in accordance with the mapping function.

Abstract: The present application includes methods and system for managing a storage device. In one implementation, a storage allocator that is present in a host or a storage device receives a request to store a file in a storage area of the storage device. The storage allocator marks the file as discardable in a file system structure associated with the storage device and updates a primary file allocation table (“FAT”) to associate a cluster chain that is allocated to the file with the file. The storage allocator additionally updates a discardable FAT or a database to reflect a physical location of the file, or may generate one or more location files that store the physical location of the file. The storage allocator then manages the storage area device based on the FAT and a discardable FAT, database, or one more location files indicating the physical location of the file.

Abstract: Methods for operating a non-volatile storage system in which cross-coupling effects are utilized to extend the effective threshold voltage window of a memory cell and to embed additional information within the extended threshold voltage window are described. In some cases, additional information may be embedded within a memory cell storing the highest programming state if the memory cell is in a high boosting environment by splitting the highest programming state into two substates and programming the memory cell to one of the two substates based on the additional information. A memory cell may be in a high boosting environment if its neighboring memory cells are in a high programmed state. Additional information may also be embedded within a memory cell storing the lowest programming state if the memory cell is in a low boosting environment. The additional information may include error correction information.

Abstract: A local proxy system includes a storage device having a local proxy and a physical port connection. The local proxy is part of a split proxy configuration having a local proxy and a remote proxy. The physical port connection is operative to receive commands from a host via an internet application protocol; and to transmit commands to the host via a modem control protocol, to thereby function as a gateway for conveying these commands to a remote proxy, via the host. Also provided is a method of optimizing communication over a network; and a local proxy system that includes a storage device having a local proxy. The storage device is in connection with a host via a physical port connection complying with a standard storage device interface.

Abstract: A method for data integrity protection includes receiving items of data for storage in a storage medium. The items are grouped into multiple groups, such that at least some of the groups include respective pluralities of the items. A respective group signature is computed over each of the groups, thereby generating multiple group signatures. An upper-level signature is computed over the group signatures. Groups of the items, the group signatures, and the upper-level signature are stored in respective locations in the storage medium.

Abstract: A storage device is configured to communicate with a host device over a Bluetooth connection. The storage device includes a flash memory, a processor, and a Bluetooth controller. The memory stores at least one permission for determining access to the memory. The processor manages access to the memory, independently of the host device, based on a comparison of a request at the removable storage device to access the memory to at least one permission. The comparison is independent, requiring no management by an operating system of the host device, such that if the at least one permission includes a particular access type that matches the access requested in the request, the processor provides access to the memory.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a non-volatile memory array, a user input device, and a host interface adapted to connect the data storage device to a host device and convey data to the host device. In response to a first operation of the user input device, application configuration data is communicated from the data storage device to the host device. The application configuration data is configured to trigger execution by the host device of a configuration application that includes a listing of a plurality of applications for display by the host device allowing a user to identify a selected application. In response to selection of an application, application designation data is generated and stored in the non-volatile memory array. In response to a second operation of the user input device, the application designation data is communicated to the host device to trigger automatic execution by the host device of the selected application.

Abstract: Programmer's data that is transferred from a programming device to a storage device is initially stored in a memory device of the storage device by using a durable data-retention storage setup. After the storage device is embedded in a host device, the programmer's data is internally (i.e., in the storage device) read from the memory device and rewritten into the memory device by using a conventional storage setup. Using a durable data-retention storage setup may include temporarily (i.e., before the storage device is embedded in a host) operating selected memory cells of the memory device as conventional SBC cells or as unconventional MBC cells. After the storage device is embedded in a host device, the programmer's data, or selected parts thereof, is read from the memory device and rewritten into it by operating selected memory cells of the memory device as conventional MBC cells.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods for protecting a host system from information-security risks posed by a URD, the method including the steps of: operationally connecting the URD to the host system; communicating, between the URD and the host system, via a network protocol, through a firewall residing in the host system; and configuring said firewall to provide security measures related to the URD. Preferably, the firewall is a software firewall or a hardware firewall. A method for protecting a host system from information-security risks posed by a URD, the method including the steps of: operationally connecting the URD to the host system; communicating, between the URD and the host system, via a network protocol, through a firewall residing in the host system; and configuring said firewall to restrict access of at least one application to the URD. Preferably, the firewall is a software firewall or a hardware firewall.

Abstract: A method includes writing a first portion of received user data to a first page of a block of a memory according to a writing schedule and writing a subsequent portion of the received user data to another page of the block according to the writing schedule. The method includes storing first metadata corresponding to writing the first portion in the memory. The method further includes associating the first metadata with the subsequent portion.

Abstract: A storage device and method for storage device state recovery are provided. In one embodiment, a storage device commences an authentication process to authenticate a host device. The authentication process comprises a plurality of phases, and the storage device stores the state of the authentication process, wherein the state indicates the phase(s) of the authentication process that have been successfully completed. After a power loss, the storage device retrieves the state of the authentication process and resumes an operation with the host device without re-performing the phase(s) of the authentication process that have been completed.

Abstract: A memory card includes a memory for storing data and a controller that is operative to control access to storage of at least a portion of storage conditional upon an authorization of a corresponding identity card of a service provider. A storage system includes an identity card of a service provider and a memory card, wherein the identity card corresponds to the memory card, and wherein access to storage of at least a portion of the memory card is controlled conditional upon an authorization from only this corresponding identity card. A method of doing business includes equipping a mobile phone with an identity card that corresponds to a memory card, configuring the memory card to operate conditional on an authorization from this corresponding secured card, and then offering the mobile phone and the memory card for sale at a discount.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory has its cells' thresholds programmed within any one of a first set of voltage bands partitioned by a first set of reference thresholds across a threshold window. The cells are read at a higher resolution relative to a second set of reference thresholds so as to provide additional soft bits for error correction. The reference thresholds of the second set are set up to be non-uniformly distributed on the threshold window so as to provide higher resolution at designated regions. At the same time they are conducive to be read in groups for soft bits to be read bit-by-bit systematically with a simple algorithm and read circuit and using a minimum of data latches. This is accomplished by relaxing the requirement that the first set of reference threshold is a subset of the second set and that the resulting soft bits are symmetrically distributed about the hard bits.

Abstract: A method includes receiving an enumeration message via a host interface of a device that is operatively coupled to a host device and to one or more other devices. The method includes identifying the enumeration message as a command originated by the host device or as a response message from one of the other devices. In response to identifying the enumeration message as a command, an enumeration response message is sent to the host device. The enumeration response message indicates a distinctive device identifier value. The method also includes, in response to identifying the enumeration message as a response message from one of the other devices, reading from the response message an identifier value used by such other device and at least temporarily storing this identifier value at the device to enable the device to select the distinctive device identifier value.

Abstract: A method for operating a host device includes inserting a plug-in adapter, having a subscriber identity module (SIM) component disposed thereon, into a host receptacle of the host device. A memory card is inserted into a memory receptacle on the plug-in adapter. After inserting the plug-in adapter and the memory card, communications are conveyed between the host device and the SIM component via the adapter and the memory card.

Abstract: A storage device and method for storage device state recovery are provided. In one embodiment, a storage device commences an authentication process to authenticate a host device. The authentication process comprises a plurality of phases, and the storage device stores the state of the authentication process, wherein the state indicates the phase(s) of the authentication process that have been successfully completed. After a power loss, the storage device retrieves the state of the authentication process and resumes an operation with the host device without re-performing the phase(s) of the authentication process that have been completed.

Abstract: A method and memory device for generating a time estimate are provided. In one embodiment, a memory device generates a time estimate from time stamps in file system metadata for a plurality of files stored in the memory device and uses the time estimate to perform a time-based activity in the memory device. In another embodiment, a memory device generates a time estimate from time stamps stored in a plurality of files stored in the memory device and uses the time estimate to perform a time-based activity in the memory device. In yet another embodiment, a memory device obtains a plurality of time stamps, selects one or more of the plurality of time stamps based on validity rankings, generates a time estimate from the selected time stamp(s), and uses the time estimate to perform a time-based activity in the memory device.

Abstract: A data storage device that can be reversibly associated with one or more of a plurality of hosts. A “trusted” host on which the device is mounted is allowed access to a secure data area of the device automatically, without the user having to enter a password. Ways in which a host is designated as “trusted” include storing the host's ID in a trusted host list of the device, storing a representation of the host's ID that was encrypted using a trust key of the device in a cookie in the host, or storing a storage password of the device in a password list of the host. Alternatively, an untrusted host is allowed access to the secure data area if a user enters a correct user password.

Abstract: A system for random number generation includes a digital oscillator circuit, which has a set of available configurations and is operative to generate a random number sequence in accordance with a current configuration selected from the set. The system further includes a randomization circuit, which is operative to produce a pseudo-random stream of values corresponding to the available configurations of the digital oscillator circuit, and to control the digital oscillator circuit to alternate among the available configurations in accordance with the pseudo-random stream of values.