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Abstract

A portable memory device and method of securing the integrity of data stored therein. The integrity of the stored data is secured by writing input data into the device in a preselected range of storage locations between a first address and a last address, storing a starting address corresponding to a memory address between the first address and the last address, sequentially addressing the memory from the starting address and writing input data into each of the sequentially addressed storage locations. The writing of input data sequentially from the first address to the last address constitutes a memory cycle and the number of the current memory cycle is stored in the device. The stored output data is transmitted outside of the device along with the number of the current memory cycle, so that each storage location in the range of storage locations has a memory cycle number associated with the data stored therein to indicate if an overwrite and therefore a loss in the integrity of the data has occurred. The writing of input data into the portable memory device may be prevented by producing a write halt signal when the starting address is greater than the last address. A new memory cycle may also be started in response to a restart signal.

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First Claim