CA2340479C - Protective circuit for protecting hard disk data - Google Patents
Protective circuit for protecting hard disk data Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2340479C CA2340479C CA 2340479 CA2340479A CA2340479C CA 2340479 C CA2340479 C CA 2340479C CA 2340479 CA2340479 CA 2340479 CA 2340479 A CA2340479 A CA 2340479A CA 2340479 C CA2340479 C CA 2340479C
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- hard disk
- data space
- protective circuit
- coupling device
- read
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/06—Digital input from, or digital output to, record carriers, e.g. RAID, emulated record carriers or networked record carriers
- G06F3/0601—Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
- G06F3/0602—Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
- G06F3/0614—Improving the reliability of storage systems
- G06F3/0619—Improving the reliability of storage systems in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/06—Digital input from, or digital output to, record carriers, e.g. RAID, emulated record carriers or networked record carriers
- G06F3/0601—Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
- G06F3/0628—Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems making use of a particular technique
- G06F3/0638—Organizing or formatting or addressing of data
- G06F3/0644—Management of space entities, e.g. partitions, extents, pools
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/06—Digital input from, or digital output to, record carriers, e.g. RAID, emulated record carriers or networked record carriers
- G06F3/0601—Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
- G06F3/0668—Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems adopting a particular infrastructure
- G06F3/0671—In-line storage system
- G06F3/0673—Single storage device
- G06F3/0674—Disk device
- G06F3/0676—Magnetic disk device
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
- Storage Device Security (AREA)
Abstract
A protective circuit for protecting hard disk data comprises: a first HD coupling connected to a HD coupling of motherboard; a second HD coupling connected to a HD; a HD signal processor coupled to the first HD coupling, the second HD coupling, and a microprocessor respectively; a random access memory (RAM) connected to the microprocessor; a nonvolatile semiconductor memory having program codes for converting a read/write instruction of the HD coupling on the motherboard with respect to the HD from a main data space to a virtual data space thereof; and the microprocessor for running program codes. In case the data stored in the virtual data space are damaged, the protective circuit of this invention can be applied to recopy the data in the main data space to the virtual data space to revive the latter.
Description
PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT FOR PROTEGTING HARD DISK DATA
FIELD OF THE IIWENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to protective circuits for protecting data, particularly to a protective circuit for protecting hard disk data arranged between a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and the motherboard in the form like an Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) interface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE IIWENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to protective circuits for protecting data, particularly to a protective circuit for protecting hard disk data arranged between a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and the motherboard in the form like an Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) interface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A protective circuit for protecting hard disk data is usually made in form of an interface card and plugged in a Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) slot or a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) slot. The measure of the protective circuit is more or less concerned to the operating system (O/S) set in a hard disk and is mostly limited in intercepting the interruption instruction INT 13 of the widely known Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) chip(s) lying on the motherboard for operating a Hard Disk Drive (HDD). Therefore, a protective circuit based on Microsoft operating system may not be compatible with that of Apple series, namely, the protective measure is somewhat dependent on an operating system. Besides, a user has to install a related driver in addition to a conventional protective circuit, which cannot function anymore when the driver is damaged or disabled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The primary object of this invention is to provide a protective circuit for protecting hard disk data, which is located between a motherboard and a hard disk (HD) drive and is irrespective of any operating system or driving program.
In accordance with this and other objects of the invention, there is provided a protective circuit for protecting hard disk data, comprising:
- a first hard disk coupling device connected to a hard disk port of a motherboard;
- a second hard disk coupling device connected to a hard disk;
- a hard disk signal processor coupled to the first hard disk coupling device, the second hard disk coupling device, and a microprocessor;
- a random access memory connected to the microprocessor; and - a nonvolatile semiconductor memory medium provided with computer readable program code means, in the microprocessor, for converting a read/write instruction of a main data space in the hard disk into a read/write instruction of a virtual data space or for converting a read/write instruction of a virtual data space into a read/write instruction of a main data space in the hard disk, and executing a direct read/write instruction from the main data space;
wherein if data stored in the virtual data space are corrupted, the protective circuit is controlled to copy the data from the main data space to the virtual data space for recovering the virtual data space.
In accordance with this and other objects of the invention, there is provided a protective circuit for protecting hard disk data, comprising:
- a first hard disk coupling device connected to a hard disk port of a motherboard;
- a second hard disk coupling device connected to a hard disk;
- a hard disk signal processor coupled to the first hard disk coupling device, the second hard disk coupling device, and a microprocessor;
- a random access memory connected to the microprocessor; and - a nonvolatile semiconductor memory medium provided with computer readable program code means, in the microprocessor, for converting a read/write instruction of a main data space in the hard disk into a read/write instruction of a virtual data space or for converting a read/write instruction of a virtual data space into a read/write instruction of a main data space in the hard disk, and executing a direct read/write instruction from the main data space;
wherein if data stored in the virtual data space are corrupted, the protective circuit is controlled to copy the data from the main data space to the virtual data space for recovering the virtual data space.
[0004] For more detailed infomiation regarding this invention together with advantages or features thereof, at least an example of preferred embodiment will be elucidated below with reference to the annexed drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005j The related drawings in connection with the detailed description of this invention, which is to be made later, are described briefly as follows, in which:
[0006] Fig. l shows the architecture of this invention;
[0007] Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing that a hard disk is partitioned into a main and a virtual data space;
[0008] Fig. 3 shows a menu of running an extemal program code; and [0009] Fig. 4 is a flowchart for infusing the program code of this invention into a 2a nonvolatile semiconductor memory.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIlVIENT
[0010] Basing on the architecture of this invention shown in Fig. 1, a protective circuit for protecting hard disk (FID) data 10 comprises a first bID coupling 100, a second HD coupling 101, a HD signal processor 103, a random access memory (RAM) 105, a programmed nonvolatile semiconductor memory 102, and a microprocessor 104. The first HD coupling 100 is connected with a HD coupling 20a on a motherboard 20 while the second HD coupling 101 is connected with a HD
30.
The HD signal processor 103 is the hub connected with the first and the second I iD
coupling 100, 101, as well as the microprocessor 104 respectively. And moreover, the RAM 105 is coupled to the microprocessor 104.
[0011] The microprocessor 104 is to run a program code in the semiconductor memory 102 to convert a read/write command for access of a main data space in the HD 30 into a virtual data space.
[0012] An Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) interface is generally disposed on a conventional motherboard 20 for jointing with an IDE hard disk drive or a CD
ROM
drive. In a preferred embodiment of the protective circuit 10 of this invention, both the first and the second HD couplings 100, 101 are IDE couplings and connected to the HD coupling 20a on the motherboard 20 and to the HD 30 through a ribbon cable 40a, 40b respectively.
[0013] According to the protective circuit 10, the HD 30 must be partitioned in advance into a main and a virtual data space 30a, 30b as shown in Fig. 2. The main data space 30a and the virtual data space 30b are two HD spaces equal to L
with respect to an initial address SO, S1, wherein the magnitude of space L and the data space 30a, 30b can be defined or partitioned by running an external program code. As shown in Fig. 3, when a user chooses item 1 to key in 1000, the HD 30 is parationed into a main and a virtual data space 30a, 30b in 1000 MB equally, wherein the main data space 30a is used to store an installed bulky software like the Microsoft Window operating System, maybe plus the Microsoft Office applica.tion software. The user may choose item 2-setup mode at the first time-for installing operating system and application software to the main data space 30a. After completion of the setup job, he may now choose item 3 to enter a virtual-data-space switching mode, and the protective circuit 10 would switch and copy all the data stored in the main data space 30a to the virlual data space 30b, so that all the read/write requests afterwards are allowed to access the virtual data space 30b instead, and thereby protect the operating system and application software stored in the main data space 30a.
[0014] Such a switch-measure has built a firewall surrounding the main data space 30a to allow vinas to invade the virtual data space 30b only. In the case of vinns invasion, a user may resume Fig. 3 and enter item 3 again, the protective circuit 10 would recopy all the data in the main data space 30a to the virtual data space 30b one more time and rebuild the operating system and application software in the latter.
Moreover, a remaining space 30c, if any, in the partitioned HD 30 is treated as a logic HD to the operating system.
[0015] In a flowchart for infusing the program code of this invention into a nonvolatile semiconductor memory shown in Fig. 4, the procedure in step 50 is to judge whether the protective circuit 10 is switched to a read/write mode of the virtual data space 30b; if positive, it goes to step 51, or to step 52 otherwise. In the step 51, a read/write instruction of the HD coupling 20a on the motherboard 20 applied to the main data space 30a is converted into that of the virtual data space 30b. For example, the HD coupling 20a on the motherboard 20 effects a read/write instrtaction with respect to an absolute address SO+xx in the main data space 30a. The step 51 is to convert the address SO+xx in the main data space 30a into a corresponding address S l+xx in the virtual data space 30b. The step 52 is to read/write the main data space 30a directly through the FID coupling 20a on the motherboard 20. For instance, when a read/write instruction is effected from the motherboard 20 through the HD
coupling 20a to a SO+ax address in the main data space 30a, the step 52 is to read/write data from or to the address SO+xx in the main data space 30a directly, namely, the step 52 is usually applied in the fust time the operating system and application software are installed. After the first time a user has installed operating system and application software in the main data space 30a, he may run an extemal program code to have the protective circuit 10 switched to a read/write mode of the virtual data space 30b and copy the data in the main data space 30a to the virtual data space 30b.
[0016] Flash menzory may be adopted as the nonvolatile semiconductor memory 102 of this invention for updating the inside program code more conveniently.
[0017) The extemal program code may be stored in a floppy disk to be read by a floppy disk drive (not shown) and run by a CPU (not shown) disposed on the motherboard 20, or integrated in the BIOS (not shown) of the motherboard 20 and run by a predetemlined hot key when booting a computer system.
[00181 In the above described, at least one preferred embodiment has been described in detail with reference to the drawings annexed, and it is apparent that numerous variations or modifications may be nlade without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the claims below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005j The related drawings in connection with the detailed description of this invention, which is to be made later, are described briefly as follows, in which:
[0006] Fig. l shows the architecture of this invention;
[0007] Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing that a hard disk is partitioned into a main and a virtual data space;
[0008] Fig. 3 shows a menu of running an extemal program code; and [0009] Fig. 4 is a flowchart for infusing the program code of this invention into a 2a nonvolatile semiconductor memory.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIlVIENT
[0010] Basing on the architecture of this invention shown in Fig. 1, a protective circuit for protecting hard disk (FID) data 10 comprises a first bID coupling 100, a second HD coupling 101, a HD signal processor 103, a random access memory (RAM) 105, a programmed nonvolatile semiconductor memory 102, and a microprocessor 104. The first HD coupling 100 is connected with a HD coupling 20a on a motherboard 20 while the second HD coupling 101 is connected with a HD
30.
The HD signal processor 103 is the hub connected with the first and the second I iD
coupling 100, 101, as well as the microprocessor 104 respectively. And moreover, the RAM 105 is coupled to the microprocessor 104.
[0011] The microprocessor 104 is to run a program code in the semiconductor memory 102 to convert a read/write command for access of a main data space in the HD 30 into a virtual data space.
[0012] An Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) interface is generally disposed on a conventional motherboard 20 for jointing with an IDE hard disk drive or a CD
ROM
drive. In a preferred embodiment of the protective circuit 10 of this invention, both the first and the second HD couplings 100, 101 are IDE couplings and connected to the HD coupling 20a on the motherboard 20 and to the HD 30 through a ribbon cable 40a, 40b respectively.
[0013] According to the protective circuit 10, the HD 30 must be partitioned in advance into a main and a virtual data space 30a, 30b as shown in Fig. 2. The main data space 30a and the virtual data space 30b are two HD spaces equal to L
with respect to an initial address SO, S1, wherein the magnitude of space L and the data space 30a, 30b can be defined or partitioned by running an external program code. As shown in Fig. 3, when a user chooses item 1 to key in 1000, the HD 30 is parationed into a main and a virtual data space 30a, 30b in 1000 MB equally, wherein the main data space 30a is used to store an installed bulky software like the Microsoft Window operating System, maybe plus the Microsoft Office applica.tion software. The user may choose item 2-setup mode at the first time-for installing operating system and application software to the main data space 30a. After completion of the setup job, he may now choose item 3 to enter a virtual-data-space switching mode, and the protective circuit 10 would switch and copy all the data stored in the main data space 30a to the virlual data space 30b, so that all the read/write requests afterwards are allowed to access the virtual data space 30b instead, and thereby protect the operating system and application software stored in the main data space 30a.
[0014] Such a switch-measure has built a firewall surrounding the main data space 30a to allow vinas to invade the virtual data space 30b only. In the case of vinns invasion, a user may resume Fig. 3 and enter item 3 again, the protective circuit 10 would recopy all the data in the main data space 30a to the virtual data space 30b one more time and rebuild the operating system and application software in the latter.
Moreover, a remaining space 30c, if any, in the partitioned HD 30 is treated as a logic HD to the operating system.
[0015] In a flowchart for infusing the program code of this invention into a nonvolatile semiconductor memory shown in Fig. 4, the procedure in step 50 is to judge whether the protective circuit 10 is switched to a read/write mode of the virtual data space 30b; if positive, it goes to step 51, or to step 52 otherwise. In the step 51, a read/write instruction of the HD coupling 20a on the motherboard 20 applied to the main data space 30a is converted into that of the virtual data space 30b. For example, the HD coupling 20a on the motherboard 20 effects a read/write instrtaction with respect to an absolute address SO+xx in the main data space 30a. The step 51 is to convert the address SO+xx in the main data space 30a into a corresponding address S l+xx in the virtual data space 30b. The step 52 is to read/write the main data space 30a directly through the FID coupling 20a on the motherboard 20. For instance, when a read/write instruction is effected from the motherboard 20 through the HD
coupling 20a to a SO+ax address in the main data space 30a, the step 52 is to read/write data from or to the address SO+xx in the main data space 30a directly, namely, the step 52 is usually applied in the fust time the operating system and application software are installed. After the first time a user has installed operating system and application software in the main data space 30a, he may run an extemal program code to have the protective circuit 10 switched to a read/write mode of the virtual data space 30b and copy the data in the main data space 30a to the virtual data space 30b.
[0016] Flash menzory may be adopted as the nonvolatile semiconductor memory 102 of this invention for updating the inside program code more conveniently.
[0017) The extemal program code may be stored in a floppy disk to be read by a floppy disk drive (not shown) and run by a CPU (not shown) disposed on the motherboard 20, or integrated in the BIOS (not shown) of the motherboard 20 and run by a predetemlined hot key when booting a computer system.
[00181 In the above described, at least one preferred embodiment has been described in detail with reference to the drawings annexed, and it is apparent that numerous variations or modifications may be nlade without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the claims below.
Claims (5)
1. A protective circuit for protecting hard disk data, comprising:
- a first hard disk coupling device connected to a hard disk port of a motherboard;
- a second hard disk coupling device connected to a hard disk;
- a hard disk signal processor coupled to the first hard disk coupling device, the second hard disk coupling device, and a microprocessor;
- a random access memory connected to the microprocessor; and - a nonvolatile semiconductor memory medium provided with computer readable program code means, in the microprocessor, for converting a read/write instruction of a main data space in the hard disk into a read/write instruction of a virtual data space or for converting a read/write instruction of a virtual data space into a read/write instruction of a main data space in the hard disk, and executing a direct read/write instruction from the main data space;
wherein if data stored in the virtual data space are corrupted, the protective circuit is controlled to copy the data from the main data space to the virtual data space for recovering the virtual data space.
- a first hard disk coupling device connected to a hard disk port of a motherboard;
- a second hard disk coupling device connected to a hard disk;
- a hard disk signal processor coupled to the first hard disk coupling device, the second hard disk coupling device, and a microprocessor;
- a random access memory connected to the microprocessor; and - a nonvolatile semiconductor memory medium provided with computer readable program code means, in the microprocessor, for converting a read/write instruction of a main data space in the hard disk into a read/write instruction of a virtual data space or for converting a read/write instruction of a virtual data space into a read/write instruction of a main data space in the hard disk, and executing a direct read/write instruction from the main data space;
wherein if data stored in the virtual data space are corrupted, the protective circuit is controlled to copy the data from the main data space to the virtual data space for recovering the virtual data space.
2. The protective circuit according to claim 1, wherein the first hard disk coupling device is an Integrated Drive Electronics coupling device.
3. The protective circuit according to claim 1, wherein the second hard disk coupling device is also an Integrated Drive Electronics coupling device.
4. The protective circuit according to claim 1, wherein external computer readable program code means are used to partition the hard disk connected to the second hard disk coupling device into the main data space and the virtual data space.
5. The protective circuit according to claim 1, wherein the main data space in the hard disk is arranged for storing an operating system.
Priority Applications (8)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2340479 CA2340479C (en) | 2001-03-12 | 2001-03-12 | Protective circuit for protecting hard disk data |
| EP01990274A EP1410139B1 (en) | 2001-01-09 | 2001-12-27 | Method for protecting data recorded on a storage medium |
| US10/450,849 US7370165B2 (en) | 2000-12-29 | 2001-12-27 | Apparatus and method for protecting data recording on a storage medium |
| PCT/CA2001/001828 WO2002054251A2 (en) | 2000-12-29 | 2001-12-27 | Apparatus and method for protecting data recorded on a storage medium |
| AU2002229427A AU2002229427A1 (en) | 2001-01-09 | 2001-12-27 | Apparatus and method for protecting data recorded on a storage medium |
| DE60118626T DE60118626T2 (en) | 2001-01-09 | 2001-12-27 | PROCESS FOR PROTECTING DATA RECORDED ON A STORAGE MEDIUM |
| AT01990274T ATE322710T1 (en) | 2001-01-09 | 2001-12-27 | METHOD FOR PROTECTING DATA RECORDED ON A STORAGE MEDIUM |
| CA002454107A CA2454107C (en) | 2000-12-29 | 2001-12-27 | Apparatus and method for protecting data recorded on a storage medium |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2340479 CA2340479C (en) | 2001-03-12 | 2001-03-12 | Protective circuit for protecting hard disk data |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2340479A1 CA2340479A1 (en) | 2002-09-12 |
| CA2340479C true CA2340479C (en) | 2007-06-05 |
Family
ID=4168573
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2340479 Expired - Fee Related CA2340479C (en) | 2000-12-29 | 2001-03-12 | Protective circuit for protecting hard disk data |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2340479C (en) |
-
2001
- 2001-03-12 CA CA 2340479 patent/CA2340479C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2340479A1 (en) | 2002-09-12 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20200312 |