Portable storage media as file servers

• US 20040073727A1
• Filed: 10/11/2002
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Digital Israel Limited (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers Ltd. (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Moran, Dov, Ban, Amir
• Granted Patent: US 7,426,584 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/74
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0664 at device level, e.g. emulation of a storage device or system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment

Abstract

A data storage device includes a data storage medium, for example one or more flash memory modules, and a direct interface, to the data storage medium, that supports a file system protocol. Preferably, the data storable device also includes a physical communication interface such as a USB interface or a wireless interface, a user interface and a power source. The scope of the invention also includes appliances that include such data storage devices.

Claims

1. A data storage device comprising:

(a) a data storage medium; and

(b) a direct interface to said data storage medium, said direct interface supporting a file system protocol.

2. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein said data storage medium includes at least one flash memory module.

3. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein said direct interface also supports a block protocol.

4. The data storage device of claim 1, further comprising:

(c) a common substrate that is shared by both said data storage medium and said direct interface.

5. The data storage device of claim 1, further comprising:

(c) a physical communication interface that supports communication between an external device and said direct interface.

6. The data storage device of claim 5, wherein said physical communication interface is a USB interface.

7. The data storage device of claim 5, wherein said physical communication interface is a wireless communication interface.

8. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein said direct interface is operative to initiate a data transfer between said data storage medium and an external device, the data storage device further comprising:

(c) a user interface with which a user of the data storage device instructs said direct interface to initiate said data transfer.

9. The data storage device of claim 1, further comprising:

(c) a power source for powering said direct interface.

10. An appliance comprising the data storage device of claim 1.

11. The appliance of claim 10, further comprising a physical communication interface for exchanging data between the data storage device of claim 1 and an external device.

12. A voice communication device comprising the data storage device of claim 1.

13. The voice communication device of claim 12, further comprising a wireless communication interface for exchanging data between the data storage device of claim 1 and an external device.

14. A camera comprising the data storage device of claim 1.

15. The camera of claim 14, further comprising a USB interface for exchanging data between the data storage device of claim 1 and an external device.

16. An audio player comprising the data storage of claim 1.

17. A video player comprising the data storage device of claim 1.

18. A remote control device comprising the data storage device of claim 1.