Multi-access solid state memory devices and a telephone utilizing such

• US 20040157638A1
• Filed: 02/06/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Modu Limited (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Teicher, Mordechai, Moran, Dov
• Granted Patent: US 7,433,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/15 Protecting or guiding telephone cords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages

Abstract

A mobile telephone device, comprising, an enclosure; a plurality of hardware components that provide the functionality of a cellular telephone or a satellite telephone, at least some of said components being inside or on said enclosure; a solid state non-volatile storage system inside of said enclosure; and a directly accessible connection for said storage system, adapted to connect to an external host system.

Claims

1. A mobile telephone device, comprising:

an enclosure;

a plurality of hardware components that provide the functionality of a cellular telephone or a satellite telephone, at least some of said components being inside or on said enclosure;

a solid state non-volatile storage system inside of said enclosure; and

a directly accessible connection for said storage system, adapted to connect to an external host system.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said connection is a physical connected to said storage system.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said storage system is separately accessible from said telephone via said connector.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said connection comprises a USB connector.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said connection comprises a wireless-interface.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said non-volatile memory comprises flash memory.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said storage system shares at least one hardware component with said telephone.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said storage system shares at least one a flash memory module for storing data with said telephone.

9. A device according to claim 7, wherein said at least one component comprises a flash memory controller.

10. A device according to claim 7, wherein said at least one component comprises a controller.

11. A device according to claim 7, wherein said at least one component comprises a user interface element.

12. A device according to claim 7, wherein said at least one component comprises a power source.

13. A device according to claim 7, wherein said flash memory storage system shares a connector with said telephone.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein said storage system is functionally integrated with said telephone.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein at least one user interface component of said telephone is used to manage said storage system.

16. A device according to claim 14, wherein operation of one of the telephone and storage system affects an operation of the other.

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein attachment of said storage system to a host, limits access of said telephone to said storage system.

18. A device according to claim 16, wherein attachment of said storage system to a host, powers off said telephone.

19. A device according to claim 14, wherein at least one file in said storage system is configured to act as a mail file for transmission of mail on said telephone.

20. A device according to claim 14, wherein at least one file in said storage system is configured to act as a personal setting file for operation of said telephone.

21. A device according to claim 1, wherein said connection is adapted to present said storage system as a hard disk system to said host.

22. A device according to claim 1, wherein said connection is adapted to present said storage system as a stand-alone storage system to said host.

23. A device according to claim 1, wherein said connection is adapted to present said storage system as a transfer system to said host.

24. A device according to claim 1, wherein said connection comprises a connector mounted on a retractable setting.

25. A device according to claim 24, wherein said setting comprises a cable with a connector at one end.

26. A device according to claim 1, wherein said storage system comprises a removable flash memory module.

27. A device according to claim 1, wherein said storage system comprises only permanently attached flash memory modules.

28. A device according to claim 1, wherein said storage system is adapted to be powered by said connection and separately from said telephone.

29. A device according to claim 1, wherein only some of a storage space of said storage system is accessible by said telephone.

30. A device according to claim 1, wherein only some of a storage space of said storage system is accessible by said host.

31. A device according to claim 1, wherein said storage system is selectively powered by said telephone and via said connector.

32. A device according to claim 1, wherein said storage system is adapted to be selectively controlled by said host and by said telephone.

33. A device according to claim 32, wherein said storage system is controlled by a single flash memory controller.

34. A device according to claim 1, wherein said storage system is controllable by at least two flash memory controllers.

35. A device according to claim 1, wherein said telephone comprises a flash memory module inaccessible by said storage system.

36. A method of accessing files stored on a telephone, comprising:

attaching the telephone to a host computer using a connection of said telephone; and

automatically recognizing said telephone as a hard-disk-like device by said host computer.

37. A method according to claim 36, comprising accessing one or more files on said hard disk device by said host.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein said connection comprises a USB connector.

39. A method according to claim 37, wherein said connection comprises a local wireless connection.

40. A method according to claim 37, wherein accessing comprises manually initiating the copying of files.

41. A method according to claim 37, wherein accessing comprises automatically initiating the copying of files.

42. A method according to claim 37, wherein said one or more accessed files is a personal settings file used for personalization of an application on said host.

43. A method according to claim 42, wherein said personal settings file is used for personalization of an application on said telephone.

44. A method according to claim 37, comprising automatically changing access privileges to at least part of a storage area on said telephone responsive to said attachment.

45. A method according to claim 37, wherein accessing comprises marking for processing.

46. A method according to claim 45, wherein said processing comprises deletion.

47. A method according to claim 45, wherein said processing comprises transmission.

48. A method according to claim 36, comprising:

transferring one or more instructions or files to said telephone from said host.

49. A method according to claim 48, comprising transferring one or more files from said host to said telephone.

50. A method according to claim 48, comprising transferring one or more instructions from said host to said telephone.

51. A method according to claim 50, comprising:

automatically carrying out said one or more instructions after a disconnection of said telephone from said host.

52. A method of sending e-mail from a computer, comprising:

attaching a telephone to a computer;

saving at least one e-mail message from said host on said telephone;

activating said telephone; and

automatically sending said e-mail message after said activating.

53. A method according to claim 52, wherein said saving is transparent to a user of said computer, as compared to a regular e-mail transmission process.

54. A method according to claim 52, wherein said activating comprises detaching said telephone.

55. A method according to claim 54, wherein sending is carried out at a delay after said detaching.

56. A method according to claim 52, wherein said activating comprises turning on an RF sub-system of said telephone.

57. A method according to claim 52, wherein said activating comprises entering a coverage area of a base station for said telephone.

58. A method according to claim 52, wherein said telephone includes a hard-disk emulator on which a mailbox file accessed by an e-mail application of said host, is stored.

59. A method according to claim 52, wherein said telephone emulates an e-mail server to said host.

60. A method according to claim 52, wherein an RF circuit of said telephone is powered off during said saving.

61. A method of consolidating message journaling, comprising:

receiving a first message on a telephone;

storing the first message on the telephone;

receiving a second message on a host; and

storing the second message from the host on said telephone indexed with said first message.

62. A method according to claim 61, wherein said host receives the message using a personal setting file stored on said telephone.

63. A dual access non-volatile memory circuit, comprising:

at least one non-volatile memory module;

at least one interface circuit attached to a first bus, for said memory module;

at least one power line; and

at least one additional interface circuit attached to a second bus or power line.

64. A circuit according to claim 63, comprising at least two power lines.

65. A circuit according to claim 64, comprising at least two interface circuits.

66. A circuit according to claim 65, wherein the interface circuits are of different types.

67. A circuit according to claim 65, wherein the interface circuits are of a same type.

68. A circuit according to claim 67, wherein the interface circuits comprise a switch and a shared circuit for two sets of interface connection lines.

69. A circuit according to claim 64, comprising a switch for automatically switching between power lines.

70. A circuit according to claim 65, wherein a different power line is used depending on which interface is active.

71. A circuit according to claim 65, wherein both interfaces are active at a same time.

72. A circuit according to claim 65, wherein both interfaces cannot be active at a same time.

73. A circuit according to claim 65, comprising at least three interfaces.

74. A circuit according to claim 65, wherein said interfaces comprise a USB interface and a bootable interface.

75. A circuit according to claim 65, wherein said interfaces comprise at least two USB interfaces.

76. A circuit according to claim 65, wherein said non-volatile memory is partitioned between said two interfaces, so that at least some of said memory is not accessible by both interfaces.

77. A flash memory storage system, comprising:

an enclosure;

a flash storage module provided in said enclosure; and

a connector retractable into said enclosure.

78. A system according to claim 77, wherein said cable is mounted on a retractable cable.

79. A system according to claim 77, wherein said enclosure encloses a telephone.