Life moment tagging and storage

Abstract

A secure memory device and method for obtaining and securely storing information relating to a life moment is disclosed. In the method, a parameter is received and inputted in a search heuristic. A search is made for the information according to the search heuristic and, upon finding the information, metadata is appended to the information. The information and metadata is then stored in a secure memory location. The secure memory location has a housing fabricated to withstand a predetermined stress, a detachable connection to a computer and a memory that stores the information and protects it from unauthorized deletion. In some embodiments, the stored information may be selectively deleted in a safe and controlled manner.

1 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a parameter relating to a life moment;    inputting the parameter in a search heuristic;    searching for information according to the search heuristic;    upon finding the information, appending metadata to the information; and    storing the information and metadata in a secure location.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the search heuristic determines at least one data location to be searched.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the search heuristic determines an order of searching.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said searching for information is over a computer network.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said searching is of the Internet.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metadata relates to a life moment.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the metadata relates to a date of the life moment.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the secure location is a secure memory device.  
   
   
       9 . A secure memory device, comprising: 
 a housing, wherein the housing is fabricated to withstand a predetermined stress;    a memory, wherein the memory stores electronic information relating to a life moment and protects the information from unauthorized deletion; and    a detachable connection to a computer.    
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the memory is also fabricated to withstand a predetermined stress.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the predetermined stress is a fire having a predetermined temperature.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the predetermined stress is an impact.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the memory further stores metadata associated with the electronic information.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the metadata identifies the life moment.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the memory is a hard disk drive.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the memory is a CD-R drive.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the memory is a DVD-R drive.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the memory has a file system.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the file system is a user definable function.  
   
   
       20 . A method comprising: 
 receiving an instruction to delete information stored in a memory;    prompting a user for confirmation of the instruction;    queuing, if the confirmation is received, the instruction for a predetermined waiting period; and    taking an action with respect to the information at the completion of the predetermined waiting period according to the instruction.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the action is deleting the information.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the memory is a first memory and the action is transferring the information to a second memory.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the action is rendering the information available for deletion.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising canceling the instruction to delete the information if the confirmation is not received.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising canceling the instruction to delete the information if a cancellation of the instruction has been received.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising prompting the user for security information, and performing said querying step only if the security information is received.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the memory is part of a secure memory device.  
   
   
       28 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising: 
 receiving a parameter relating to a life moment;    inputting the parameter in a search heuristic;    searching for information according to the search heuristic;    upon finding the information, appending metadata to the information; and    storing the information and metadata in a secure location.    
   
   
       29 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the search heuristic determines at least one data location to be searched.  
   
   
       30 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the search heuristic determines an order of searching.  
   
   
       31 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein said searching for information is over a computer network.  
   
   
       32 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein said searching is of the Internet.  
   
   
       33 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the metadata relates to a life moment.  
   
   
       34 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the secure location is a secure memory device.  
   
   
       35 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising: 
 receiving an instruction to delete information stored in a memory;    prompting a user for confirmation of the instruction;    queuing, if the confirmation is received, the instruction for a predetermined waiting period; and    taking an action with respect to the information at the completion of the predetermined waiting period according to the instruction.    
   
   
       36 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the action is deleting the information.  
   
   
       37 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , further comprising canceling the instruction to delete the information if the confirmation is not received.  
   
   
       38 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of canceling the instruction to delete the information if a cancellation of the instruction has been received.  
   
   
       39 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , having further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of prompting the user for security information, and performing said querying step only if the security information is received.  
   
   
       40 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the memory is part of a secure memory device.