Password and dynamic protection of flash memory data
US6731536B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 7, 2002 |
| Grant date | May 4, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 6, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C16/22
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In protecting Flash memory data, a flexible system and method provides for different levels of protection. It offers the ability to dynamically lock a sector of memory using a dynamic protection bit in volatile memory. It offers persistent locking of a sector using a non-volatile bit in memory and locking this status using a lock bit in volatile memory. It offers yet further protection by including a password mode which requires a password to clear the lock bit. The password is located in an unreadable, one time programmable area of the memory. The memory also includes areas, whose protection state is controlled by an input signal, for storing boot code in a protected manner.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.