Abstract: A method and system are disclosed that permit a storage device to remain fully functional despite running out of a sufficient supply of spare blocks in memory. The storage device includes a non-volatile memory and a controller, where the controller is configured to detect an insufficiency of spare blocks and convert operative blocks to spare blocks. The method includes techniques for selecting certain operative blocks for conversion to spare blocks using the storage manager on the storage device and a file system manager that may or may not be part of the storage device.

Abstract: A ternary card assembly is provided that includes a detachable smart card, a detachable information tab, and a disposable carrier card, which are connected by breakaway links. The smart card and the information tab may be connected to one another directly or indirectly through an intermediate element. The information tab may include one or more panels that are elastically displaceable from the plane of the information tab to render the information tab useful in different ways. A payload set is also provided, which includes a smart card and an information tab, which is detachably connected to only a part of the smart card's perimeter. Also provided are methods of preparing a smart card for use and for customizing a smart card.

Abstract: A data storage device provides information to an application while protecting the information from being copied. Particularly, the data storage device may include a detector to detect an access to an indicator. The indictor may be integrated with the information in such a way that a copy application will access the indicator when copying the information but another application using the information (e.g. a database application) will not access the indicator. The data storage device may further be configured to undertake a defensive response when access to the indicator is detected. Defensive responses may include terminating the access, issuing a report, or sending spurious data to the host. The configuration of the indicator and timing of the response may be chosen to impede separation of the indicator from the data.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an enforcement system for controlling security in a territory including: (a) a multifunctional device having a plurality of device functionalities; (b) a disabling mechanism for reversibly disabling at least one device functionality; and (c) a gate controller, for enforcing security in the territory, having a restricting mechanism for activating the disabling mechanism. A method for controlling device functionalities of a device in a territory including the steps of: (a) sending a disable instruction to the device to disable at least one device functionality upon entry of the device into the territory; and (b) disabling at least one device functionality, by the device, upon receipt by the device of the disable instruction.

Abstract: A storage device comprising a non-volatile memory for storing data, and an input device that is operative to select an operating mode of the storage device prior to mounting the storage device, such that each operating mode represents a different type of storage device. A controller interfaces with the input device to establish the selected operating mode of the storage device once the storage device is mounted.

Abstract: A portable device includes n (n?2) electrical sockets, each of which is configured to accommodate and to electrically engage a removable external memory card; an input device for selecting accommodated and electrically engaged external memory cards for data reading; and an output device for outputting information that is derived from or related to data read from such selected electrically engaged external memory cards. The information may pertain to digital content of the selected external memory card, to the identity of the selected external memory card, or to the storage capacity of the selected external memory card.

Abstract: A method uses multiple communication modes for fast uploading of a datum preloaded from a manufacturing device to a data storage device over existing external contacts of the data storage device. Preferentially the data storage device is a high capacity SIM card and a user mode allows communication by standard protocols such as ISO, SD/MMC and USB whereas a manufacturer mode applies a multi data line SD/MMC protocol or a custom protocol for high speed data uploading.

Abstract: A system uses multiple communication modes for fast uploading of a datum preloaded from a manufacturing device to a data storage device over existing external contacts of the data storage device. Preferentially the data storage device is a high capacity SIM card and a user mode allows communication by standard protocols such as ISO, SD/MMC and USB whereas a manufacturer mode applies a multi data line SD/MMC protocol or a custom protocol for high speed data uploading.

Abstract: A method of using a device, including monitoring host activity in an autonomous manner, without the host reporting to the device about its activity. The method also including initiating communications from the device and using resources of the host for such communications, thereby enabling the device to function as a proactive device.

Abstract: A device having user-selectable content includes a storage having the capacity to store pre-loaded content and a controller. The controller is operative to manage access to the pre-loaded content, by way of limiting the access to a user-selected portion of the pre-loaded content. The controller limits access subject to and performed according to an indication of an initial purchase transaction. Also provided is a controller that includes a processing unit and an interface to a memory. The processing unit is operative to manage access to pre-loaded content stored on the memory.

Abstract: A method of controlling access to user selectable content includes receiving, by a storage controller, an indication of an initial purchase transaction; and managing access to the pre-loaded content. The indication of the initial purchase transaction is associated with pre-loaded content in a storage that is controlled by the storage controller, the indication including user-selected identification of or criteria for delineating a particular portion of the pre-loaded content. The access management includes limiting the access to the particular portion of the pre-loaded content and making such limited access subject to and performed according to the indication of the initial purchase transaction.

Abstract: An identity module includes a memory and a processor. In the memory are stored installation code for installing in the memory a provider profile that associates the identity module with a communication services provider and communication code that, in combination with the provider profile, supports communication by a host of the identity module using services of the communication services provider. The processor executes the installation code to install the provider profile and then executes the communication code in support of the communication. Preferably, no portion of any such communication suite is stored initially in the identity module. The host requests the provider profile from a server that includes a communication interface for communicating with the host, a memory wherein is stored code for providing to the host a customization suite that includes substantially all of the provider profile, and a processor for executing the code.

Abstract: To recruit a new subscriber to a communication services provider, when a request is received, from a host of an identity module that lacks any portion of a provider profile that associates the identity module with a communication services provider, to provide a customization suite for installing substantially all of the provider profile in the identity module, terms of usage are proposed to the host. If the host consents to the terms of usage, the customization suite is sent to the host.

Abstract: An identity module includes a memory and a processor. In the memory are stored installation code for installing in the memory a customization suite that associates the identity module with a communication services provider and communication code that, in combination with the customization suite, supports communication by a host of the identity module using services of the communication services provider. The processor executes the installation code to install the customization suite and then executes the communication code in support of the communication. Preferably, no portion of any such communication suite is stored initially in the identity module. The host requests the customization suite from a server that includes a communication interface for communicating with the host, a memory wherein is stored code for providing substantially the entire customization suite to the host, and a processor for executing the code.

Abstract: A USB peripheral device may automatically launch an application residing in its memory after it is connected to a host or after restarting the host if the USB flash drive has already been connected. Alternatively, the USB peripheral \device can automatically launch an application residing on the host or on a network, which is accessible by the host. The USB peripheral device has a USB interface and a controller, which is operative to execute instructions for sending and receiving messages through the USB interface. The controller is further operative, when executing the instructions, to send to a host a stream of emulated keystrokes, which emulated keystrokes cause the host to generate and execute a startup script. Embodiments of the invention include a USB peripheral device able to control a host and a method of using a USB peripheral device to control a host.

Abstract: A local storage device (LSD) is provided configured to have a host device (HD) in communication with the LSD. The LSD includes a memory array. The LSD is configured to characterize data access usage of the LSD by at least one program executing on the HD. The LSD is configured to monitor access to the LSD as a result of data access operations by the HD relative to the memory array of the LSD. The LSD is additionally configured to determine characteristics of the monitored access. The LSD is additionally configured to, based on characteristics of the monitored access, determine and store data on the LSD indicative of the characterized monitored access.

Abstract: A method of preventing unauthorized access to digital content includes obtaining from a trusted entity a public key of a public-private key pair, encrypting content being received by a storage device using the public key, and storing the encrypted content on the storage device. The public-private key pair includes the public key and a corresponding private key. The content is encrypted on the storage device using the public key so as to be decipherable using a corresponding private key. Access to the corresponding private key is restricted to the trusted entity alone and encrypted content may be decipherable by the trusted entity, only after an indication of authorization for use of the corresponding private key is provided to the trusted entity. Also provided is a method of controlling access to encrypted content that is stored on a storage device operating as a secure storage device.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein disclose methods and devices for expanding the storage capacity in a storage device, including the steps of creating at least one partition in a storage memory of the storage device; designating a reserved-storage area and an enabled-storage area in at least one partition; storing a partition size in a FAT of the storage memory; and upon authorization, increasing the partition size to include sectors in the reserved-storage area, thereby expanding the storage capacity in a storage device. Preferably, the reserved-storage area is not accessible by a host system. Preferably, the partition size is determined from a partition range stored in a master boot record in the storage memory. Most preferably, the partition range is determined from an enabled capacity stored in a memory-management area in the storage memory, and wherein the memory-management area is not accessible by a host system.

Abstract: Data stored in a memory are provided to a host by monitoring how the host accesses the data, and by responding to a deviation of the access from a dynamic access profile that corresponds to the data, e.g. by terminating the access, by issuing a report of the deviation, or by sending spurious data to the host. Preferably, the dynamic access profile is stored in the memory in association with the data. A data storage device includes a memory for storing the data and an access control mechanism.

Abstract: A method for mediating messages between an advertiser and a user of a mobile device, the method including the steps of: providing the mobile device with: a local storage memory having a locally-stored database, residing in the mobile device, with at least one advertising message of the advertiser; an ADM, residing in the mobile device, for selecting advertising messages from the database; and an event detector, residing in the mobile device, for detecting at least one event of the mobile device; detecting an occurrence of at least one event using the event detector; locally selecting at least one context-dependent advertising message stored in the database using the ADM, at least one context-dependent advertising message correlated with at least one event; presenting at least one context-dependent advertising message to the user on the mobile device; and remunerating the user for consent to receive at least one context-dependent advertising message.