US 9069703

US patent 9069703, titled "Encrypted-transport solid-state disk controller," was issued to Seagate Technology LLC. The sole inventor listed is Farbod Michael Raam. The application was filed on April 20, 2012, and the patent was granted on June 30, 2015.

Abstract:
The patent describes an encrypted-transport Solid-State Disk (SSD) controller that interfaces with a host to store data in a compressed (and optionally encrypted) form in Non-Volatile Memory (NVM), such as flash memory. Encrypted data received from the host is first decrypted and then compressed using lossless compression to reduce flash memory write amplification. The compressed data is then re-encrypted and stored in the flash memory. For read operations, the stored data is retrieved, decrypted, decompressed, and re-encrypted before being delivered back to the host. When this SSD controller is implemented within a secure physical boundary, such as a single integrated circuit, it protects the encrypted data from the point of receipt, through storage in flash memory, and until delivery to the host. The controller can exchange session encryption/decryption keys with the host and/or utilize a security protocol like TCG Opal to determine encryption/decryption keys.

Plain-language overview of independent claims:

The patent includes several independent claims, categorized by method, system, and tangible computer readable medium.

Independent Method Claims:

• Claim 1: Describes a method for reading data from Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) and providing it to a computing host. The method involves receiving data from NVM, preparing it, and then processing it through a sequence of operations: decrypting the prepared data, decompressing this decrypted data (using a method symmetrical to lossless compression), re-encrypting the decompressed data, and finally providing this re-encrypted data to the host.
• Claim 5: Describes a method for writing data received from a computing host to Non-Volatile Memory (NVM). This method involves receiving data from the host, processing it through a sequence of operations: decrypting the received data, compressing this decrypted data (using lossless compression), re-encrypting the compressed and decrypted data, and providing this re-encrypted data as results. These results are then prepared for storage in NVM.
• Claim 9: Outlines a method for processing data received from NVM, offering selectable modes. In a first mode, the prepared data is decrypted, decompressed, re-encrypted, and then provided to the host. In a second mode, the prepared data is directly decompressed, then re-encrypted, and subsequently provided to the host.
• Claim 13: Details a method for processing data received from a computing host, also with selectable modes. In a first mode, the received data is decrypted, compressed, re-encrypted, and then provided as results for storage. In a second mode, the decrypted and compressed data is directly provided as results for storage, without the final re-encryption step.

Independent System Claims:

• Claim 29: Describes a system for handling data from a computing host for storage in NVM. It includes mechanisms for receiving data and selectively enabling one of multiple operating modes. An "encrypted mode" involves decrypting received data, compressing it, re-encrypting the compressed and decrypted data, and providing it as "encrypted mode write data." A "non-encrypted mode" involves compressing the received data and providing it as "non-encrypted mode write data." The system also has mechanisms for selecting the appropriate write data based on the enabled mode, encrypting this selected data, and formatting it for storage in NVM.

Independent Computer Readable Medium Claims:

• Claim 44: Covers a tangible computer readable medium storing instructions. When a processing element of a storage device executes these instructions, it performs operations similar to Claim 29: receiving data from a host, selectively enabling an "encrypted mode" (decrypting, compressing, re-encrypting, and providing encrypted write data) or a "non-encrypted mode" (compressing and providing non-encrypted write data), selecting the appropriate write data, encrypting it, and formatting it for storage in NVM.

As of April 26, 2026, the legal status of US9069703 is "Active" according to Google Patents, with an anticipated expiration date of April 20, 2032. I have not found any information regarding CAFC 2026 dockets specifically mentioning US patent 9069703. Therefore, I cannot authoritatively confirm any active litigation or appeals related to this patent in the CAFC dockets for 2026.US patent 9069703, titled "Encrypted-transport solid-state disk controller," was granted to Seagate Technology LLC. The inventor is Farbod Michael Raam. The patent application was filed on April 20, 2012, and the patent was issued on June 30, 2015.

Abstract:
The patent describes an SSD controller designed to manage non-volatile storage, such as flash memory, using encrypted transport techniques. When the controller receives encrypted data from a host, it decrypts and then losslessly compresses the data to reduce write amplification. This compressed data is then re-encrypted before being stored in the flash memory. Conversely, when data is read from the flash memory, it is retrieved, decrypted, decompressed, and re-encrypted before being sent back to the host. The SSD controller, ideally implemented within a secure physical boundary like a single integrated circuit, ensures data protection throughout this process. The system also supports key exchange for transport encryption and can integrate with security protocols like TCG Opal to manage encryption/decryption keys.

Plain-language overview of independent claims:

• Claim 1 (Method): A method for retrieving data from non-volatile memory (NVM) and sending it to a computer. This involves taking the data from NVM, preparing it, then performing a series of steps: first decrypting the prepared data, then decompressing that data (using a method that reverses a lossless compression), next re-encrypting the decompressed data, and finally providing this newly re-encrypted data to the computer.

• Claim 5 (Method): A method for a storage device to receive data from a computer and prepare it for storage in non-volatile memory (NVM). This involves taking the data from the computer, then performing these steps: first decrypting the received data, then compressing that decrypted data (using lossless compression), next re-encrypting the compressed and decrypted data, and finally making this re-encrypted data ready for storage.

• Claim 9 (Method): A method for processing data retrieved from non-volatile memory (NVM) with different operational modes. In a first mode, the retrieved data is prepared, then decrypted, then decompressed, then re-encrypted, and finally sent to a computer. In a second mode, the retrieved data is prepared, then directly decompressed (without an initial decryption step), then re-encrypted, and finally sent to the computer.

• Claim 13 (Method): A method for an SSD controller to process data received from a computer for storage in non-volatile memory (NVM), with different operational modes. In a first mode, the received data is decrypted, then compressed, then re-encrypted, and this re-encrypted data is prepared for storage. In a second mode, the received data is decrypted, then compressed, and this compressed, decrypted data is prepared for storage without a final re-encryption.

• Claim 29 (System): A system designed to handle data received from a computer for storage in non-volatile memory (NVM). This system includes components to receive data and to switch between different operating modes. An "encrypted mode" involves components that decrypt the incoming data, compress it, re-encrypt the compressed and decrypted data, and then provide this as data ready for writing. A "non-encrypted mode" involves components that compress the incoming data and provide it as data ready for writing. The system also has components to select the data from the chosen mode, encrypt it, and then format it for storage in NVM.

• Claim 44 (Tangible Computer Readable Medium): A physical computer readable medium containing instructions. When a processor in a storage device runs these instructions, it will perform actions like those described in Claim 29. Specifically, it will receive data from a computer, choose between an "encrypted mode" (which involves decrypting, compressing, re-encrypting, and providing encrypted write data) or a "non-encrypted mode" (which involves compressing and providing non-encrypted write data), select the appropriate data, encrypt it, and format it for storage in non-volatile memory (NVM).

The patent's legal status is "Active" with an anticipated expiration on April 20, 2032. A search for US9069703 in CAFC 2026 dockets did not yield specific results, so the presence of any active litigation or appeals concerning this patent in the CAFC for the current year cannot be authoritatively confirmed.